A murder investigation has been launched after the 78-year-old former Conservative MP and prisons minister was found dead with serious injuries at his home in southwest England on Thursday.
"This is truly shocking news, and my thoughts, I think all of our thoughts, go out to Ann Widdecombe's family and friends at this terrible time," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement.
At a press conference, police said that a white British man is in custody on suspicion of the crime.
The incident is not being investigated as terrorism, and police say there is no information to suggest that it was politically motivated.
