Police were today carrying out fingertip searches near Ann Widdecombe’s home as Nigel Farage says a car was seen arriving moments before it is believed she was killed. 

Officers wearing gloves and face masks were seen scouring bushes and moss-covered walls in the hunt for clues as murder detectives continue to hunt for the former Tory minister’s suspected killer.  

It comes as Reform leader Mr Farage came to lay flowers for Ms Widdecombe at a makeshift shrine hundreds of yards from the former minister’s cottage in the picturesque Dartmoor National Park.

Mr Farage claimed that Miss Widdecombe – whom he described as a friend – was killed in a ‘premeditated’ manner, and ruled out her murder being a burglary gone wrong. 

His comments come after police said they believe 78-year-old Miss Widdecombe was killed at around 12.30pm on Wednesday – 24 hours before her body was found in her kitchen in a pool of blood. 

The Reform boss said a car drove up to Miss Widdecombe’s driveway about five minutes before she was killed.

He said: ‘One theory doing the rounds is that it was a burglary gone wrong. But a car went onto the drive at approximately 12.25-12.30 on Wednesday.

‘She had done one interview in the morning… she was due to do another one at 1pm. So if you were a burglar, would you literally drive your car onto someone’s drive? From what I can see of it, from what I make out, this was premeditated murder.’

He added: ‘Whether it was politically motivated, whether it was someone with a grudge. I don’t think it pays at this time to speculate.’

He also compared Ms Widdecombe’s murder to the long-unsolved murder of BBC reporter Jill Dando.

He said: ‘Whatever the outcome of the motives of a killer, and let’s just hope and pray, this is not a Jill Dando type case where they don’t find a person. I believe with modern technology they will.’

When asked what message he has for the killer of Ms Widdecombe, 78, who is at large, Mr Farage said: ‘There are no words that I can utter that somebody who’s committed this act of barbarity against an innocent 78-year-old lady who wouldn’t harm a fly.

‘I just hope that the killer is caught as quickly as possible and brought to justice, that’s all I can say.

Ann Widdecombe was found dead in the kitchen of her remote bungalow in Dartmoor yesterday

Police have been searching for evidence today near Miss Widdecombe’s home

A police officer wearing a face mask and gloves investigates some bushed near Miss Widdecombe’s home

Leader of the Reform UK party Nigel Farage lays flowers at Dartmoor National Park near the home of Miss Widdecombe 

‘Even though we don’t know what the motive is, in a town there is so much ANPR and CCTV that generally these days people are caught pretty quick, but look around you.’

Mr Farage said that he had spoken directly with Keir Starmer about Ms Widdecombe’s death at least twice since her murder. He also said that he has spoken to the chiefs of Devon and Cornwall Police on a number of occasions, and said Reform was ready to help the police in whatever way they can.

He said that they are already going through their emails to see if she or any other Reform politicians received any threats.

Mr Farage said poignantly that he had only spoken to Ms Widdecombe – a spokeswoman for the party – last week, when they both discussed Reform, adding that he had often visited Ms Widdecombe at her cottage, which she named Widdecombe’s Rest.

The Reform boss, who himself has been attacked in person and online before, warned that life for politicians has become more dangerous.

He said: ‘What it does say is that people now in public life, especially politics, the world is very much more dangerous than it’s ever been.’

He added: ‘We will do anything we can to support the police. For example, I’ve had our security teams going through all of our emails to pick out ones that were sent that were either directly to Ann or were abusive about Ann. We’re doing everything we can to support the police in every way.’

In an 11-minute-long tribute, Mr Farage spoke movingly of Ms Widdecombe, a former Tory minister and TV personality.

He said: ‘She really loved this place. She loved the moor, she loved its wildlife, she enjoyed the panoramic views from her bungalow. While she was part of the community here and very well known, she also had that solitude and peace in her home, in her garden – it meant so very much to her.

‘It seems extraordinary on a beautiful place like this to think of the not only untimely but violent, barbaric manner of her death.’

He added: ‘She was a remarkable individual, redoubtable – I think the word was invented for her. Opponents knew exactly what to expect from her and at times I have to say colleagues felt the wrath of her tongue. She was the fiercest proponent of free speech I think I have ever met. She believed we had the freedom and the right to say things that insulted each other.’

He repeated his belief that his friend was killed in a premeditated murder.

Mr Farage: ‘From what I can see of it, from what I can make out, this was premeditated murder.

‘Whether it was politically motivated, whether it was somebody with a grudge, I don’t think it pays at this moment in time to speculate, but what I do think we can say and how extraordinary of course that David Amess was such a very, very, close friend of Ann’s. Ann was the godmother to David Amess’s daughter. What it does say is that people now in private life, especially politics, the world is very much more dangerous than it has ever been.’

Mr Farage was not allowed to visit Ms Widdecombe’s house, as his motorcade was blocked by the police cordon.

Police officers have been carrying out a fingertip search near her property 

Officers have been combing for any potential evidence today 

An officer investigates a moss-covered wall near Miss Widdecombe’s home 

Mr Farage spoke to the media as he paid tribute to the Reform UK party member 

Mr Farage claimed that Miss Widdecombe – whom he described as a friend – was killed in a ‘premeditated’ manner, and ruled out her murder being a burglary gone wrong

Police announced today that they are still searching for her suspected killer, who is believed to be a white male.

A 26-year-old white British man who was arrested on Friday was released from custody this morning and is no longer part of the investigation. 

Detectives said the case is ‘moving at significant pace’ and ‘our priority remains identifying those responsible’ for Ms Widdecombe’s death. 

It comes after new details emerged about Ms Widdecombe’s final hours, as it was revealed the alarm was raised after she failed to appear on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show at 1pm on Wednesday. 

She was last seen in an interview on Talk TV at around 8am the same day.

A researcher on the Channel 5 show had spoken to Ms Widdecombe on the phone earlier in the afternoon to set up the interview.

After the call, the researcher exchanged messages with Ms Widdecombe, with her last message received at 12.19pm.

The researcher then messaged again at 12.48pm requesting that Ms Widdecombe join the Zoom link in preparation for the remote interview, but she did not reply.

Subsequent voice calls and messages asking if everything was OK went unanswered. Concerns were raised by the show’s research team about the uncharacteristic lack of response from Ms Widdecombe, who was a regular on the show.

They contacted her agent later on Wednesday and followed up again on Thursday.

This morning, a cordon remains in place at Ms Widdecombe’s remote Dartmoor property. 

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman provided an update on the force’s investigation today and said: ‘Our priority remains identifying those responsible and ensuring that all available evidence is thoroughly examined.

‘Detectives continue to carry out numerous inquiries as part of the ongoing investigation and we remain committed to establishing the full circumstances surrounding the incident.’

He said the investigation was ‘moving at a significant pace’, adding: ‘We are deploying all of the necessary resources to find out exactly what has happened.

‘I would appeal to anyone who may have information about this incident, however insignificant it may seem, to come forward and speak with us.

‘We will release further information when we are able to do so. In the meantime, I would ask people not to speculate about what might have happened, particularly on social media.

‘This is not only potentially harmful to our investigation but also deeply distressing for family and friends of Ms Widdecombe. The family have also asked for their privacy to be respected as they come to terms with what has happened.

‘We have set up a major incident public portal for information, images or footage to be submitted to us. This can be found on our website.

‘Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers.’

Ms Widdecombe was previously a Brexit Party MEP and subsequently became Reform UK’s Immigration and Justice spokesperson.

In a post on X, Channel 5 presenter Dan Walker said that Ms Widdecombe had been due to appear on 5 Daytime on Wednesday afternoon ‘but stopped responding to messages and didn’t turn up for the show’. 

Ms Widdecombe on Channel 5’s Jeremy Vine show 

She was due to appear on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show on Wednesday at 1pm but failed to appear

Ms Widdecombe’s driver of ten years Peter Horrell, 72, laid a floral tribute outside her home today 

Floral tributes and framed photo of Ms Widdecombe have been laid near her home

He added: ‘The team contacted her agent to ask them to check in on her. This information has been passed to police as it’s part of the investigation.’

Last night, a source close to the family said: ‘We’re in total shock and disbelief. It was hard enough to find out we’d lost Ann – but we still have yet to come to terms with the fact that she died in such brutal circumstances. Perhaps we never will. 

‘She was a little, frail old lady. What we find most difficult of all is that she must have been in abject terror for the last minutes of her life.’

Ms Widdecombe’s driver of ten years, Peter Horrell, 72, laid a floral tribute outside her home today.

Speaking to journalists, he said she had ‘never mentioned any fear’ for her safety and that she loved living in Haytor.

Mr Horrell said: ‘When I saw it yesterday, I thought she had had a heart attack or a stroke or something.

‘Of course, then later it turned out it was a suspected murder. [I was] just shocked, absolute shock.’

Mr Horrell said he spoke to Ms Widdecombe’s personal assistant afterwards, who ‘didn’t know at that time what had happened’.

The driver said it was ‘very sad’, adding: ‘I just couldn’t believe it’.

He said he last worked for her when he drove her to Yeovil in Somerset, adding that she ‘always looked after me’ and ‘made sure I had something to eat’.

Asked whether she had ever expressed any concern for her safety, he said: ‘Not really, she seemed quite happy living up here by herself. You never expect it, do you? Well I certainly didn’t. You know, very sad.’

Mr Horrell said Ms Widdecombe ‘loved’ living in the area, adding: ‘She loved walking up on the moors and, as you know, she’s got a swimming pool at the back. So if she come back late or late-ish she’d always have a brandy and go for a swim.

‘She was a great lady, very kind. You know, she was absolutely a privilege to take in the car, and she was funny at times.’

He added: ‘I like her because if you asked her a question, you’d get a direct answer. There was no mucking about. She was brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

‘I thought she was a great politician. She was very strong in her views. I don’t think you’d be able to replace that sort of person, not really. Could be a little bit outspoken at times, but that was Ann.’

Meanwhile, neighbours have been speaking today of their shock following the grisly discovery. 

A forensics officer collects evidence from Ms Widdecombe’s home as police continue to search for clues

Police remain at the murder scene this morning with a cordon still in place at the property 

Forensics officers continue to gather evidence at the property today 

Officers believe Ms Widdecombe was attacked at around 12.30pm on Wednesday – 24 hours before her body was found

Christine Maloney, who lives near Ms Widdecombe’s home in Haytor, said the area was ‘very safe’ and it was not unusual for people to leave their cars and front doors unlocked.

She said of the former MP: ‘My husband saw her a week ago, driving around. I’m very shocked at [her death], it shouldn’t have happened, it’s horrific.

‘Everyone knows that’s her house, perhaps that’s the problem?’

She added: ‘It’s got to be someone that’s local or knows her. Whoever did it, I think they should put him out for the locals to deal with him.’

Alison and Simon Gilbert, who have lived in Haytor Vale for more than a decade, said Ms Widdecombe was a well-known figure locally.

Mrs Gilbert said: ‘She was a nice woman, really nice woman, and she had a great sense of humour. It’s a lovely area – you talk to strangers.

‘Everyone saw her as quite an opinionated politician, but to us she was just a person in the community.

‘First of all, we got back and saw police and thought maybe it was a burglary, a lot of us suspected she had a heart attack or something.’

‘She didn’t deserve to die like that,’ Mr Gilbert added.

Ms Widdecombe, a Brexiteer and devout Catholic, refused to be cowed by terrorists – even after the murder of fellow MP and ‘best friend in Parliament,’ Sir David Amess, who was fatally stabbed in his constituency surgery in Essex in 2021. 

Asked last October whether she ever feared being physically attacked because of her beliefs and high profile, Ms Widdecombe said defiantly: ‘No.’

‘I took a very robust attitude,’ she said. ‘In my day, it was the IRA and I suppose I had a slightly faithless attitude.

‘I remember I used to get death threats from time to time. We all did, and my staff would say, ‘Shall we tell the police?’

‘I’d say, ‘Put it in the bin,’ because if the IRA are going to do it, they’re not going to tell you in advance, they’re just going to do it. As they did with Airey Neave [assassinated in a 1979 car bomb].

‘I still take that attitude. I do know that we’re in a slightly different world but I think it’s crucial that MPs and their constituents intermingle freely.’ She said Sir David, 69, who was stabbed to death by Islamic State fanatic Ali Harbi Ali while holding a constituency surgery in Leigh–on–Sea, Essex, in October 2021, agreed with her.

‘I knew him terribly well, and his family, of course,’ she added. ‘I know, and I said this to his widow, who agreed with me, that he would never want his death used as a reason to distance MPs from their constituents. 

Flowers left outside Miss Widdecombe’s home in devon following her death

Ex–Tory minister Ann Widdecombe was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor on Thursday after sustaining serious injuries.

Police outside Miss Widdecombe’s home in Devon. Today, Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed the release of a 26–year–old man from custody, following his arrest on Friday

Officers outside Miss Widdecombe’s home. The force said the investigation was ‘moving at a significant pace’

‘His belief, and it is still my belief, that an MP should be able to walk through the town on a Saturday afternoon, talk to their constituents. I feel very strongly about that.’

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said her murder was a ‘terrible reflection on modern Britain’.

He said: ‘Our nation is a much, much poorer place without her. Reform UK is certainly a much worse place without her. I was expecting to see her in Clacton over the course of the next few days. Sadly, that is not going to happen.’

Sir Keir Starmer urged people to ‘come together’ across political divides following the murder. He said: ‘This is really shocking news, and my thoughts, I think all of our thoughts, will be with the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe at this awful time for them.

‘Ann was a distinguished politician over many, many years with many achievements, and it’s a huge, huge loss.’

Conservative leader Mrs Badenoch said: ‘I don’t understand how someone could do something so horrific to an elderly person. It was a nasty, horrific attack and my heart is breaking for her family.’

Andy Burnham sent his condolences to Widdecombe’s family, and said: ‘Ann gave a lifetime of public service’. 

Former Tory leader Boris Johnson called on the police to provide answers: ‘Sadness at the death of Ann Widdecombe now turning to anger and bewilderment at the news that she seems to have been murdered. We need the facts as fast as we can.’ 

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: ‘I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of Ann Widdecombe. The circumstances of her death are extremely distressing.’

Paying tribute to his ‘darling pal’ Daily Mail columnist Andrew Pierce said: ‘I had spoken to Widders myself only on Tuesday, seemingly the day before she died. 

‘As always, she was fizzing with ideas and berating me – as she invariably did – for not having written in these pages about an issue relating to child maintenance payments, which she planned on championing at Reform’s party conference in September.

‘Her uncompromising, no-nonsense nature was why I loved her, and why I will miss all 5ft one-and-a-half inches of her (‘Don’t forget the half!’ she used to quip) more than I can say.’