Final Interview Recorded Minutes Before Ann’s De-a-th Offers a Look at Her Last Public Moments
ANN Widdecombe called politics a “game of personal destruction” in her final interview just 20 minutes before police say she was battered to death.
The Reform UK spokeswoman, who was murdered in her Dartmoor home on July 8 at 12.30pm, joined a Christian radio station between 11.54am and 12.10pm.
The interview ended moments before she sent her final message to Channel 5 producersCredit: Alamy
Ann joined a Christian radio station between 11.54am and 12.10pm, minutes before her deathCredit: TWR-UK
It means the interview ended moments before the 78-year-old messaged Channel 5 researchers to set up her next interview at 1pm, with her final text sent at 12.19pm.
Ann, a devout Catholic, used the interview to defend Reform UK leader Nigel Farage over a £5million gift which he says was for security.
The interview was not broadcast live on the TWR UK station, and was meant to be aired late last week.
However the recording has now been published with the permission of Ann’s family.
Ann Widdecombe’s body was found by her carer nearly 24 hours after her deathCredit: TWR-UK
Dozens of tributes have poured in for Ms WiddecombeCredit: PA
A cordon was put in place around Ms Widdecombe’s remote homeCredit: Neil Hope
Backing Mr Farage’s decision to call a by-election in Clacton, Ms Widdecombe ominously branded politics a “game of personal destruction”.
The veteran former minister said: “Let’s bring an end to it, let’s bring this to a head, let’s put it to the people to see what they think of all of this.
“There has been a game now for a very long time, a game of personal destruction, not just for Nigel, for lots and lots of politicians that face this.”
She added that the parliamentary register of interests, which Mr Farage did not declare the £5million to, had “departed from its original purpose.”
Ann went on: “It’s become a game so that people try to see, you know, what you might not have declared, you might have decided you didn’t have to declare.
“Other people, like I did, will declare every last darn thing, even though it’s complete nonsense.”
Footage of the chat shows she recorded the interview in the library of her bungalow in Haytor, Devon, wearing the same outfit as she worn on TalkTV at 8am that morning.
The host, James Maidment-Fullard, told Times Radio: “I was looking at my phone when the alert came in on Friday at 6.30 in the morning.
Counter-terror cops have taken over the investigation after a 28-year-old man was arrestedCredit: NB. PRESS LTD
Forensic officers have been gathering evidence at the suspect’s homeCredit: NB. PRESS LTD
“And I just remember staring at the alert thinking that there’d been some kind of mistake.
“As the story developed and the timeline became clearer, I was just deeply saddened by it.
“To be honest, I’m just still trying to come to terms with it all.”
Mr Maidment-Fullard said he had reported the interview to the police but they haven’t asked to see the recording.
A 28-year-old man, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, has been arrested on suspicion of her murder and preparing or instigating a terrorist act.
He is suspected to have driven 270 miles in his red Vauxhall Corsa before attacking Ann and driving home for tea.
Counter-terror police now fear the killing, initially thought to be a burglary gone wrong, could have been a politically motivated attack.
same outfit as she had appeared in on TalkTV.
Ms Widdecombe was interviewed on TalkTV at around 8am on Wednesday via video link from her home, named Widdecombe’s Rest.
She was then due to appear on Channel 5‘s Matt Allwight show at 1pm – but failed to respond to show producers.
Ms Widdecombe did not respond to a Zoom link sent half an hour later at 12.48pm before a producer messaged at 12.55pm asking: “Hi Ann is everything ok?”
During the show, Mr Allwright confirmed Ms Widdecombe had been due to appear but had stopped responding to messages.
Fears were raised for Ms Widdecombe who was a regular on both the Jeremy Vine and Matt Allwright panel shows, and would typically respond to interview requests quickly.
She was known to join the shows by Zoom from her home.
However, the ex-MP failed to appear on the show having not picked up the phone or joined a virtual link.
Channel 5 said it passed all of the relevant information to police after news of Ms Widdecombe’s death broke.
Her body was not found until 11.40am the next day, meaning there was a 24 hour gap in which the 78-year-old, who lived alone, could not be contacted.
A 28-year-old suspect was later arrested in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, and is believed to have made the 540-mile round trip to Ann’s home.
And it is understood that Russian and communist material was discovered on the alleged killer’s devices with counter-terror cops now probing whether the attack was politically motivated.
Cops are focused on establishing the suspect’s political views over fears they may have been the murder motive, according to reports.
Counter-terror cops yesterday took over the murder probe from Devon and Cornwall Police after “new information and evidence” came to light.
Terror suspects can be held without charge for up to 14 days instead of the standard 24 hours for other criminal matters.
They say it followed the examination of electronic devices belonging to the suspect after he was taken into custody.
Cops believe Ms Widdecombe died almost 24 hours before her body was discovered.
The suspect was re-arrested yesterday on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTP) said.
The dramatic development came despite Devon and Cornwall Police repeatedly playing down the idea of a political motivated murder.
The Head of National Counter Terrorism Police, Laurence Taylor, said: “Building on the progress made by our colleagues in Devon and Cornwall Police, we now have new information and evidence that means Counter Terrorism Policing is now leading the investigation.
“We are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry to establish the motivation for this attack.
“Our priority is progressing this investigation quickly, with all the capabilities we have available to us. If anyone has any information, please share it with the police.
“We would like to thank local communities, the wider public and the media for their ongoing support and patience, and would ask them to continue to support us in the next stage of the investigation.”
