A 28-year-old man has been detained on suspicion of murdering former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe at her home in Devon. Joshua Kerry was arrested on July 11 in connection with the death of the veteran politician, who was found with serious injuries at her bungalow in Haytor Vale, Dartmoor, on July 9.

Miss Widdecombe, 78, sustained injuries that police indicated were unlikely to have resulted from a fall. Devon and Cornwall Police launched a murder investigation, initially stating there was no evidence to suggest the killing was politically motivated. Shortly after the incident, a 26-year-old man was also arrested but subsequently released without charges.

Mr Kerry, who worked in administration for a lift installation and repair company, was taken into custody at his home in Kimberworth, Rotherham, South Yorkshire. Authorities also seized a red Vauxhall Corsa believed to be connected to the suspect.

On July 13, Counter Terrorism Policing South East took over the investigation following the emergence of new information and evidence. The following day, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of counter terror policing, described the killing as a “targeted attack.”

Relatives and neighbors characterized Mr Kerry as a quiet individual who had recently lost his father, Paul Yates. A family member called his arrest a "massive shock," emphasizing that he was not known for violence.

Ann Widdecombe served as a Conservative MP from 1987 until 2010, holding the position of shadow home secretary under William Hague. In 2019, she left the Conservative Party to join the Brexit Party, driven by dissatisfaction over the UK’s delayed exit from the European Union. She later became a spokesman for Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage.

Known for her staunch Euroscepticism, Widdecombe also championed socially conservative causes, opposing abortion, assisted dying, and the ordination of women priests. Beyond politics, she gained public recognition as a contestant on the 2010 series of Strictly Come Dancing and was known for her devout Roman Catholic faith and love of animals.

Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum following her death. Nigel Farage and Reform UK colleagues visited Haytor Vale to pay their respects, with Farage describing Widdecombe as a “friend” and crediting her with playing a significant role in delivering Brexit. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer expressed his horror at the incident, calling Widdecombe a “distinguished politician with deep convictions” and emphasizing the need to strengthen protections for democracy. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch remembered her as a “very fun and feisty woman” and extended condolences to her family.