Devon and Cornwall Police have launched a murder inquiry into the death of Ann Widdecombe, the 78-year-old former Conservative prisons minister, after she was found with a serious head wound at her home in Haytor, Dartmoor. Officers were called by an ambulance crew at 11.40am the previous day and discovered her covered in blood with "serious injuries". Her death had initially been announced by her management team that morning with no suggestion of anything other than natural causes, making the shift to a murder investigation especially striking.

Police say they are hunting a "white male" whom they believe is responsible, and forensic officers are examining her cordoned-off property. Detective Chief Inspector Ilona Rosson said the inquiry was in its early stages but "moving at a significant pace", and appealed for information, particularly any CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage from the vicinity of Haytor Vale. Sir Keir Starmer described the news as "really shocking" and praised the former MP as "distinguished".