A man who was arrested on suspicion of murdering of British politician Ann Widdecombe has now been released and is no longer part of the investigation, police say.

Ann Widdecombe, a 78-year-old former Tory MP turned Reform UK spokeswoman, was found dead in her home with serious injuries, police said.

British police said they had launched a murder investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe, a 78-year-old former government minister whose death was announced earlier on Friday.