Chief Constable James Vaughan said Devon and Cornwall Police had “mounted an extraordinary response to a horrific murder of a very prominent public figure” and shown “British policing at its very best”.
He said the investigation had been running at “lightning pace” over the past 48 hours, adding: “I am really pleased that we have a suspect firmly in custody.”
Widdecombe served as the Conservative MP for Maidstone for 23 years, holding ministerial roles in John Major’s government between 1994 and 1997.
Following her departure from the Commons in 2010, Widdecombe appeared on ‘s Strictly Come Dancing that year, and was a runner-up on Celebrity Big Brother eight years later.
She joined the Brexit Party in 2019 where she represented South West England as its MEP from 2019 to 2020.
There has been an outpouring of shock and grief from across the political divide following the news of her death.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to Widdecombe, describing her death as a “significant loss” as he called on people to “rise above” political differences.
“My heart is breaking for her family,” said Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, describing Widdecombe as a “very fun and feisty woman”.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who visited Dartmoor to pay his respects to Widdecombe, described her as a “remarkable individual” and “the fiercest defender of free speech”.
“She was an extraordinary lady,” shadow chancellor Mel Stride, MP for Central Devon – Widdecombe’s constituency – told One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme.
“I was always struck both by the fact she had real true conviction, strong personality, yet she had that twinkle in her eye, that enormous energy and that great sense of humour,” he said, describing the combination as “quite rare” and “rather special”.
Peter Horrell, her personal driver of 10 years, was among those who lay flowers outside her home.
He said Widdecombe had “never mentioned any fear” for her safety and loved living in the tiny village she had made her home.