ANN WIDDECOMBE SUSPECT RELEASED AS MURDER INQUIRY CONTINUES

British police have released a 26-year-old man who had been arrested on suspicion of murdering former government minister Ann Widdecombe, and said he is no longer under investigation, according to Al Jazeera and NBC News. The release means the murder inquiry is continuing with no suspect in custody.

Widdecombe, 78, was found dead at her home in southwest England on Thursday after suffering serious injuries. Police are treating the death as suspicious and have continued forensic and CCTV inquiries around the property.

Police now believe Widdecombe was attacked on Wednesday around 11:30 GMT, about a day before her body was discovered. Officers said the estimated attack came shortly after her last known communication, and that ambulance workers called police to the home the following day.

Police said the killing is not being treated as terrorism-related or politically motivated. Authorities had initially consulted counter-terrorism officers, but said that unit is no longer involved and that there is no wider threat to the public.

Senior officers said the released man is no longer part of the investigation, and police have urged the public not to speculate while investigators continue trying to establish what happened inside the property.

Widdecombe served as a Conservative member of Parliament for two decades and held ministerial roles before leaving front-line politics. She later became a prominent public figure through television appearances and her role in Brexit politics.

Political leaders across parties have paid tribute to Widdecombe while avoiding conclusions about the motive. Figures from across the political spectrum expressed shock and offered condolences after her death.

The immediate questions are whether police identify a new suspect, whether forensic evidence confirms the estimated timeline, and whether witness or camera evidence helps establish who entered or left the property before Widdecombe was found. For now, the key development is that the only person arrested has been released, and the murder inquiry remains active.

Fact-check date: 11 July 2026
Article type: News
Sources: Al Jazeera, NBC News, CNN, CBS News, police statements reported by news outlets