The former Conservative MP also confirmed in an interview she had CCTV at her home which could now hold the answers to police investigation.17:48, 10 Jul 2026Updated 18:10, 10 Jul 2026Ann Widdecombe spoke about receiving death threats before she died - but she did not take them seriously. The former Conservative MP said she threw away any letters or abusive messaged delivered to her home or office when she was in Parliament.Speaking last October, Ann said: “I remember I used to get death threats from time to time. We all did. and my staff would say, shall we tell the police? And I'd say, put it in the bin. Because if the IRA are going to do it, they're not going to tell you in advance, they're just going to do it.“As they did with Airey Neave. You know, they just do it. So I just said, put it in the bin. And I still take that attitude. I do know that we're in a slightly different world. I do know that. But I think it's crucial that MPs and their constituents intermingle freely.”Ann went on to insist that no MP should ever be scared to walk around their town or be afraid in their home, she referred to a formed colleague who was murdered in 2021.Anne said: “David Amess, who was one of the MPs who was murdered, was my best friend in Parliament. I knew him terribly well, or knew him terribly well, and his family, of course. And I know, and I said this to his widow, who agreed with me, that he would never want his death used as a reason to distance MPs from their constituents.“His belief, and it is still my belief, that an MP should be able to walk through the town on a Saturday afternoon, talk to their constituents. Absolutely. So I feel very strongly about that.“In my day, it wasn't fundamentalist Islam. In my day, it was the IRA. And I suppose I had a slightly faithless attitude.”Ann was speaking at the Best Heroes Awards 2025 at The Waldorf Hilton in London last October.In a light hearted moment she also confirmed she had some security cameras at her home, the footage of which is likely to now be looked at by police for clues in their ongoing investigation.Anne had been asked about her gnome collection in her garden and security. She said “I've never gone in for the big gates and the electronics and all that nonsense. So, no, I mean, anybody could come in and steal a gnome. I would pick them up on my cameras so if anybody wants to steal a gnome they'd better mask up.”Police have arrested a 26-year-old white, British man on suspicion of murder, after Ann was found dead inside her Devon home.Devon and Cornwall Police Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said the force remained "open-minded" about the investigation, and said it had no information to believe her death was politically-motivated.Ann Widdecombe's management announced her death aged 78 on Friday morning, but they did not say where, when or how she died.Devon and Cornwall Police have confirmed a murder investigation has been launched following "the suspicious death" of Widdecombe at her home in Dartmoor.Article continues belowLike this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .