The late politician was brutally murdered at her home in Devon last week.
Ann Widdecombe was found dead in her Devon home last week (Image: Getty)
GB News ground to a halt minutes into Tuesday’s breakfast show (July 14) as fresh updates on the investigation into Ann Widdecombe’s murder came in. Hosts Ellie Costello and Alexander Armstrong returned to the airwaves to deliver the latest news hitting the headlines. It didn’t take long for things to turn political, as they discussed the latest developments on the former Strictly star’s sudden death last week.
The Reform UK politician was found dead with “serious injuries” in her Devon home on Thursday morning. Devon and Cornwall Police soon launched a murder investigation into her unexpected death, which led to the arrest of a 28-year-old man in Rotherham on Saturday (July 11).
To get all the latest updates on the story, the dynamic duo welcomed Home and Security Editor Mark Wright onto the programme, who reported live from Devon. He began: “It was a very dramatic twist in this investigation to hear news yesterday afternoon that it was now officially being taken over by Counter Terrorism Police.
“This man had been re-arrested on suspicion of the preparation, commission or instigation of acts of terrorism, meaning that the police believe that Ann Widdecombe was murdered as a result of an act of terrorism. That is the definite line of inquiry they’re pursuing; in fact, the Home Secretary, in her speech in the Commons and Assistant Commissioner [Laurence] Taylor from the Metropolitan Police, who is head of Counter Terrorism Policing, said that there were multiple lines of inquiry now that had come to light that they were pursuing.
“But what that means, because it is a complex terror investigation, is that they have more time on the clock to continue interviewing their suspect, a 28-year-old man from Rotherham who was arrested at 9 O’Clock on Saturday evening (July 11). He was brought down to this false area for questioning.
“We don’t know if he’s still in this false area, or whether detectives have had him transferred elsewhere in the meantime, but that questioning can continue up to two weeks because of the complexity of Counter Terror investigations, simply because the tentacles of these Counter Terrorism investigations can lead far and wide.”
This comes as Devon and Cornwall Police face backlash over its handling of the investigation into her death following its transfer over to Counter Terrorism. The force has repeatedly told the press that there was “nothing to suggest” the former Strictly star’s death had been politically motivated or linked to terrorism in a series of public statements released after her death last week.
Devon and Cornwall Police are facing criticism as Counter Terrorism take over the case (Image: Getty)
However, on Monday afternoon, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing announced that the national unit had taken over the investigation after officers uncovered “new information and evidence”. Laurence Taylor, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing, said: “We now have new information and evidence that means Counter Terrorism Policing is leading the investigation… We are pursuing multiple lines of inquiry to establish the motivation for this attack.”
The motive behind the alleged murder remains unclear. Miss Widdecombe was Reform UK’s spokesperson on immigration and justice and was due to make a television appearance hours before her death. However, the force had repeatedly rejected suggestions that she may have been deliberately targeted over her politics.
Jonathan Hall, the Government’s independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said he was “surprised” the force had guided the public away from the possibility that there was a political element to the killing. It didn’t take long for viewers to flock to X – formerly known as Twitter – to share their thoughts on the latest development.
One user penned: “Dartmoor and Devon will never be quite the same after this heinous, poignant murder [crying emoji]. Ann Widdecombe must get the justice the nation demands, and the perpetrator must receive a whole-life order when this case comes to court [angry emoji]. Devon and Cornwall Police have been appallingly non-transparent.”
Another agreed: “This whole case has been a shambles with something very strange going on that the media aren’t telling,” as a third agreed: “A far bigger story here [sad emoji].”