An inquest will be opened into the death of former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe.
Ms Widdecombe, 78, was found dead at her Dartmoor home on 9 July, having suffered “serious injuries”.
Police said that it was believed the former MP had suffered a “targeted attack” the day before she was found.
A 28-year-old British man has been arrested on suspicion of her murder. He is still being questioned by detectives.
A hearing is scheduled at 10am on Tuesday at County Hall in Exeter to open an inquest into Ms Widdecombe’s death.
Counter-terrorism police, meanwhile, are investigating whether the suspect arrested in connection with Ms Widdecombe's killing was motivated by left-wing extremism and planned further violence.
Ms Widdecombe’s death has reignited debate over the level of protection offered to politicians.
Vulnerable MPs and public figures have also been advised to set up safe rooms in their homes in case of attacks.
The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA), an arm of MI5, handed updated guidance to individuals at high risk, including MPs, local councillors and foreign dissidents, which included the recommendation that they set up a “safer area” where they can take shelter if their home comes under attack from “hostile actors”.
Their advice has emerged after Ms Widdecombe was killed, but was published online before her death.
Who was Ann Widdecombe?
Ms Widdecombe served as an MP for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years, from 1987 to 2010, and was a minister of state for prisons and employment in John Major’s government.
She was known for her socially conservative views, which included opposing the legality of abortion and widening rights for the LGBTQ+ community, during her Commons career.
After leaving Parliament, she went on to compete on Strictly Come Dancing and also had a stint on Celebrity Big Brother.
Widdecombe returned to politics in 2019 with the Brexit Party – later renamed Reform UK – and won the southwest England seat in the European Parliament election.
She held the seat until the UK left the EU on 31 January 2020, before becoming Reform UK’s immigration and justice spokesperson from 2023 to 2026.
