Mourners to gather for funeral of ‘murdered’ ex-Tory minister Ann Widdecombe – as cops patrol abbey grounds

MOURNERS are due to arrive at Ann Widdecombe’s funeral after the ex-MP was allegedly murdered in her home. Cops are inspecting Buckfast Abbey in Devon – where Ann regularly worshipped – ahead of the service. Ann was a Tory MP between 1987 and 2010 for the Kent constituency of Maidstone, later Maidstone & The Weald Credit: AFP A floral arrangement is carried into Buckfast Abbey this morning Credit: PA Cops have swarmed the grounds of the abbey to search drains and plant pots ahead of the funeral Credit: PA A police officer looks down a drain during a security search in the grounds of Buckfast Abbey Credit: PA Her nephew Rev Roger Widdecombe and Sir Christian Sweeting, a close friend, will speak at the service. Cops swarmed the grounds of the abbey to search drains and plant pots ahead of the funeral. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! A statement from the abbey said Ann would be “missed and fondly remembered” and “many in our worshipping community knew her as a kind and warm character”. “Ann was a woman of profound faith, a faith which found expression in the public forum of politics. “Ann was unafraid to express her unwavering convictions, formed through her Roman Catholic faith. She had a sharp intellect and was a dedicated public servant.” The ex-Tory minister, 78, was discovered with serious injuries at her bungalow in Dartmoor, Devon, on July 9. It’s believed she was attacked the day before – after giving two media interviews that morning. An inquest opening heard how “concerns were raised” on July 9 after Ann’s team failed to get hold of her. Most read in The Sun She was due to appear in an online chat with C5’s Matt Allwright at 12.50pm. Her employee then went to her bungalow where they found Ann “unresponsive and with visible injuries”. A police detection dog inspects a bin and seating area at the abbey Credit: PA Family, friends and politicians are descending on Buckfast Abbey in Devon for the service Credit: PA Her nephew Rev Roger Widdecombe and Sir Christian Sweeting, a close friend, will speak at the service Credit: Poppy Berry/Buckfast Abbey A police officer looks in bedding plants during a security search Credit: PA A provisional cause of death was given as a “blunt force injury to the head”. Joshua Kerry, 28, was arrested 300 miles away in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, two days later and has been charged with her murder. Kerry later appeared at the Old Bailey where the court heard he allegedly hit Ann in a “planned and targeted” attack carried out with a “ferocity of violence”. Devon and Cornwall Police were slammed for saying there was “nothing to suggest” Ann’s alleged murder was politically motivated at the time. Counter-terrorism cops took over the probe just days later. After she died, Ann’s colleagues gathered near her home for a vigil. Nigel Farage, Richard Tice, Zia Yusuf, Lee Anderson and Danny Kruger all laid floral tributes. Ann was a Tory MP between 1987 and 2010 for the Kent constituency of Maidstone, later Maidstone & The Weald. She also held several ministerial positions in Sir John Major’s government. Following her departure from the Commons, she appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 and was a runner-up on Celebrity Big Brother eight years later. Nigel Farage posted a tribute on Instagram this morning Credit: nigel_farage/Instagram Joshua Kerry, 28, was arrested 300 miles away in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, two days later and was charged with her murder Credit: The Sun Ann later switched allegiance to the Brexit Party and then Reform UK where she became a party spokeswoman. It comes as cops investigating her alleged murder have re-opened an investigation into an “attempted firebombing” at Farage’s home. The Met Police received a report of a break-in bid at the property in south London in April 2025. No arrests were made and the investigation closed. But counter-terror cops said on Friday night they had identified a line of inquiry not pursued that “may have been relevant”. The Sun understands the probe relates to a home linked to Nigel Farage, and that a lit incendiary device was pushed through the letterbox during the burglary bid. The attack, which police believe was carried out between April 17 and 20 last year, was reported at the time, however the investigation was closed with no suspect identified. Farage has long called for extra protection and previously revealed he gets almost 600 death threats a year. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is now investigating the “conduct” of a CTP London staff member, following an allegation that the employee “failed to identify and pursue a line of inquiry” related to the attempted burglary.