A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of the former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe at her home in Dartmoor, UK police have said.Widdecombe’s body was found with “serious injuries” by the ambulance service at an address in Haytor, Devon, at 11.40am on Thursday, Devon and Cornwall police said. At a press conference in Exeter, the assistant chief constable Matt Longman said a 26-year-old white British national was arrested at an address in Newton Abbot on Friday. He remains in police custody while inquiries continue.The former Conservative minister’s next-of-kin had been informed and were being supported by specially trained officers, Devon and Cornwall police said.Detectives began a murder investigation and were conducting extensive inquiries into the circumstances surrounding Widdecombe’s death.UK prime minister Keir Starmer said it was important to “rise above any political differences” and focus on helping the police investigation.Starmer said: “This is really shocking news, and my thoughts, I think all of our thoughts, will be with the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe at this awful time for them.He said he had spoken to the chief constable about the details of the case and that it was “really important that this is a moment where we rise above any political differences.”Police outside the house of Ann Widdecombe in Haytor in Dartmoor on Friday. Photograph: Matt Keeble/PA Wire Starmer added that he had spoken to the prime minister-in-waiting, Andy Burnham, and the Reform UK and Conservative leaders, Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch respectively.Farage said he was “deeply, deeply upset” by the nature of Widdecombe’s death.He added: “Rest in peace, Ann. A remarkable, principled woman, and a truly dreadful way to die, and a terrible reflection on modern Britain.“And I do fear that for anybody in public life, or especially the political space, things have become even more dangerous to them.”Badenoch said she was “stunned” to hear about the murder inquiry. “To be honest, I’ve really struggled to find the words to say,” the Conservative leader told reporters. “The Conservative party is reeling. Ann was a long-standing member of the Conservative party, she was a Conservative minister and then she moved to Reform.“I’m sure they’re just as stunned as we are, and I extend my condolences to Nigel Farage and everyone in Reform on behalf of the Conservative party, because we’ve both lost a friend.”A spokesperson for Burnham, who is widely expected to become prime minister later this month, said: “Andy’s deepest condolences and thoughts are with Ann’s family today, in incredibly distressing circumstances.”Zack Polanski, leader of the UK Green Party, also paid tribute to Widdecombe: “Shocked to hear the news about the circumstances of Ann Widdecombe’s death. My thoughts are with her loved ones at this distressing time.”Roads were closed around the scene and a cordon was in place at the property while specialist officers continued forensic examinations.Det Chief Insp Ilona Rosson said earlier in the day: “This is an extremely tragic incident and our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe at this difficult time.“Our murder inquiry is in its early stages but moving at a significant pace. We are deploying all of the necessary resources to find out exactly what has happened.She said the extra police presence was also to provide reassurance to residents and anyone with concerns could approach officers.Widdecombe, who appeared on Talk radio on Wednesday, lived in Haytor Vale, a village within the Dartmoor national park, in southwest England, in a 1970s bungalow named Widdcombe’s Rest.She was a Conservative MP from 1987-2010 for the Kent constituency of Maidstone, later Maidstone and the Weald. She became a member of the Brexit Party from 2019 and served as an MEP, representing South West England, between 2019 and 2020. She was also a member of that party’s successor, Reform UK.Paying tribute after her death was announced earlier on Friday, her management made no reference to how she died.Portraying her political views as the result of what she saw as “strong Christian values and commitment to public service”, her representatives, Cloud9 Management, said: “She loved the cut and thrust of political debate and, 16 years after leaving parliament, was still actively campaigning for Reform UK and offering forthright views on the hot topics of the day across numerous radio and television programmes.They later said they were “devastated” to learn a murder investigation had been launched into her death.UK home secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of Ann Widdecombe. The circumstances of her death are extremely distressing and my thoughts are with Ann’s family and loved ones.“I have spoken to the chief constable of Devon and Cornwall police today. The Home Office stands ready to provide whatever support they need with their ongoing investigation. I urge everyone to avoid speculation and allow the police investigation to progress.” Strictly Come Dancing’s Anton Du Beke has said he is “devastated” to hear that Widdecombe has died. The pair were partnered together on the BBC One dancing programme in 2010. – The Guardian/PA