Martin Daubney has paid emotional tribute to friend and former colleague Ann Widdecombe following her death.
Speaking to GB News, the People’s Channel host was visibly moved as he declared he “cannot believe this is happening”.
Martin said of Ms Widdecombe: “Of all the people you will ever meet in your entire political career, you’ll never find somebody as wholesome, as Christian, as welcoming as Ann Widdecombe, the kindest person you’ll ever meet.
“When we all started as Brexit Party MEPs, so many of us were complete novices and she was the mother hen. She took us under our wing.”
The GB News host recalled a “defining moment” for Ms Widdecombe during the Brexit campaign.
He revealed: “I’ll never forget there was a defining moment in the Brexit story, when Ann Widdecombe walked into the Miners Welfare in Pontefract during the campaign before the vote, and she got a standing ovation.
“People in Pontefract would have spat on the grave of Margaret Thatcher – Ann Widdecombe was seen as a Thatcherite – and she walked into that room and the place erupted.
“And it was like, wow, something is happening here, a defining moment. Ann Widdecombe was on the front line of making sure the working classes got the Brexit vote.”
Martin Daubney was visibly moved as he delivered an emotional tribute to Ann Widdecombe
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GB NEWS
Martin praised Ms Widdecombe for her funniness and how she “helped everyone” who was entering the political sphere.
He said: “She helped everyone who was new to the game, she was so gracious with her knowledge. She was terrifying, but she was hilarious.
“One of the funniest people you’ll ever meet, she was so funny and disarming, and it just makes it even more alarming that anybody could ever think of doing anything like this.
“I’m just still mind blown that anybody could consider doing this to Ann Widdecombe. Staggering.”
Devon and Cornwall Police Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman released a statement
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GB NEWS
Martin recalled having Ms Widdecombe as a frequent guest on his GB News show, and how she was working up until just a few days ago.
He said: “I had her on my show a lot, she came on my show a lot, and I would always reach out to her. People on the Brexit Party MEP WhatsApp group, which is still alive all the way from 2019 just lit up this morning.
“People have been speaking to her very, very recently, she filed a column for GBNews.com this week, the last thing she ever wrote, so there was absolutely no signs of any deterioration you’d associate with age.
“This sudden unexplained death, which now looks like a murder, is chilling.”
Martin told GB News the circumstances surrounding her death are ‘chilling’
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GB NEWS
In a statement, Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman confirmed a “26-year-old man was arrested at an address in Newton Abbot this afternoon” on suspicion of Ms Widdecombe’s murder.
He said: “The suspect, who is a white British national, remains in police custody whilst enquiries can continue.
“Officers were called to Ms Widdecombe’s home at Hayter by the ambulance service around 11:40 a.m. on Thursday, the 9th of July.
“Sadly, 78-year-old Ms Widdecombe was located deceased within the property. She had sustained serious injuries.”