Ann Widdecombe, the former Conservative MP, MEP, and prominent Reform UK spokesperson, has died at the age of 78. Her death, which occurred at her home in Haytor Vale on Dartmoor, is currently being treated as a murder investigation by Devon and Cornwall Police.
Throughout her long career, which spanned from her election as the MP for Maidstone in 1987 to her later work with the Brexit Party and Reform UK, Ms. Widdecombe was known for her steadfast social conservatism and forthright, often polarising, political style. A devout Catholic, she was a vocal opponent of abortion and a proponent of the death penalty.
Her stance on LGBTQ+ issues was a defining feature of her political identity, placing her at odds with many of her contemporaries. She consistently opposed the expansion of legal rights for the LGBTQ+ community, including the equalization of the age of consent and the repeal of Section 28—a law that prohibited the "promotion" of homosexuality in schools.
In 2019, while serving as a Brexit Party MEP, she drew significant condemnation for suggesting that science might one day "produce an answer" to being gay, drawing parallels to the changing medical understanding of gender transition. Critics, including fellow politicians and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, labeled her comments "vile" and accused her of perpetuating the harmful and discredited idea that being gay is a condition requiring a "cure." Throughout her career, she maintained that she was being misrepresented and that she was simply defending the rights of those who might be "confused" or "discontented" with their sexuality to seek alternatives.
Following her passing on Thursday, July 9, 2026, police were called to her home after she was found with serious injuries. Devon and Cornwall Police have since confirmed that they have launched a murder investigation.
Detective Chief Inspector Ilona Rosson of the Force Major Crime Investigation Team, who is leading the inquiry, has stated that the investigation is "moving at a significant pace." Authorities have appealed to the public for information regarding any suspicious activity in the vicinity of Haytor Vale and are currently seeking a white male in connection with the incident. A p.olice cordon remains in place around the property as forensic teams continue their work.
Tributes have begun to emerge from across the political spectrum, with many noting her formidable presence in the House of Commons and her later transition into a well-known television personality. Despite her often inflammatory rhetoric, her supporters frequently described her as a woman of deep principle who was unafraid to speak her mind in the face of intense public scrutiny.
If you have any information regarding the circumstances of Ms. Widdecombe's death, please contact the Devon and Cornwall Police through their official channels
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