The brutal murder of Ann Widdecombe was last night being treated as a suspected politically motivated terrorist attack.In a dramatic escalation, counter terrorism officers yesterday took over the investigation into the killing of the former Tory minister. It came after the discovery of Russian communist literature and other items of political ideology at the home of the suspected killer.And it marked a U-turn after the local force, Devon and Cornwall Police, spent days insisting that there was no link to terrorism. Officers, it is understood, are probing whether the 78-year-old may have been bludgeoned to death in a premeditated attack on Reform UK.They are looking at whether a self-radicalised loner may have considered the pensioner an 'easy target' in comparison to more prominent party figures, such as Nigel Farage, who have security.Last night, Reform accused Devon and Cornwall police of misleading the public in the initial stages of the investigation.Senior officers were under pressure to explain why they so publicly ruled out terror or a political motivation.When the bloodied body of the former prisons minister was found on Thursday morning, officers initially focused on a theory that she had disturbed a burglar at her home in Haytor, Dartmoor, even though nothing had been taken from the £600,000 property. The murder of Ann Widdecombe, pictured on a TV show two weeks ago, was last night being treated as a suspected politically motivated terrorist attack The suspect was captured on CCTV leaving his property shortly before 8am on Wednesday with what appears to be a pole in the pocket of his shortsTwo days after the murder, detectives arrested a local labourer in error, before later detaining a 28-year-old man 270 miles away in Rotherham on Saturday night. The Mail has learnt that items of varying political ideology, including Russian material, have been found at the suspect's home and on electronic devices.But investigators do not believe there is any evidence of hostile state involvement.Counter terrorism police are investigating whether the 'lone wolf' targeted Ms Widdecombe due to her political views, which she frequently expressed during regular appearances on TV and radio defending Reform as the party's immigration and justice spokesman. The former Strictly contestant was well known for her beliefs, including opposition to abortion and gay rights.Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed yesterday that the British white suspect, who the Mail is not naming, was not known to the Government's deradicalisation programme, Prevent. Police are making inquiries about his mental health.Officers believe the murder on Wednesday may have been premeditated. The accused is not thought to have known the victim, whose home had featured on a TV programme broadcast just days before her death.The unmarried former MP, who has lived alone since her retirement in 2010, was last seen on a Talk TV show around 8am on Wednesday.She had been scheduled to appear on Channel 5's Matt Allwright show that afternoon but suddenly stopped responding to WhatsApp exchanges with a producer. Counter terrorism police are investigating whether the 'lone wolf' targeted Ms Widdecombe due to her political views Footage shows a group of armed officers descending on the suspect's property in Rotherham on Saturday