NIGEL Farage has claimed Ann Widdecombe’s death appears to be “premeditated murder”.

The Reform UK leader also said a car had parked on the late politician’s driveway just five minutes before police theorise she was murdered at her isolated Devon home on Wednesday.

It comes after cops said they believe Ms Widdecombe, 78 – who joined Reform UK in 2023 – was killed 24 hours before her body was found at the property in Haytor, Dartmoor.

The Sun understands detectives are working on the theory a burglary went wrong resulting in the death at lunchtime on Wednesday, before her body was found in the kitchen by a carer the next day.

She had allegedly been bludgeoned to death, sustaining a serious head wound.

Speaking at a memorial to the ex-Tory minister at the nearby Moorland Hotel in Newton Abbot this afternoon, Mr Farage said: “One theory doing the rounds is that it was a burglary gone wrong.

It comes as…

• Ann Widdecombe, 78, found dead at her Devon home
• The politician’s carer reportedly found her body
• Cops believe she was killed 24hrs before being found
• A 26-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder has been released and is no longer under investigation
• She died after a burglary gone wrong, cops fear
• The host of Ann Widdecombe’s final TV interview has broken his silence
• What we know about her cause of death as cops launch murder probe
• Ann Widdecombe’s alleged killer was caught on CCTV at her remote home

“But a car went onto the drive at approximately 12.25-12.30 on Wednesday.

“She had done one interview in the morning… She was due to do another one at 1pm.

“So if you were a burglar, would you literally drive your car onto someone’s drive?

“From what I can see of it, from what I make out, this was premeditated murder.

“Whether it was politically motivated, whether it was someone with a grudge. I don’t think it pays at this time to speculate.”

Mr Farage went on to say: “What it does say is that people now in public life, especially politics, the world is very much more dangerous than it’s ever been.

“Whatever the outcome of the motives of a killer, and let’s just hope and pray, this is not a Jill Dando type case where they don’t find a person.

“I believe with modern technology they will.”

Asked for a message to the at-large killer, the Reform leader said: “There are no words that I can utter that somebody who’s committed this act of barbarity against an innocent 78-year-old lady who wouldn’t harm a fly.

“I just hope that the killer is caught as quickly as possible and brought to justice, that’s all I can say.

“Even though we don’t yet know what the motive is, in a town there is so much ANPR and CCTV that these days, generally, people are caught pretty quickly, but look around you.”

Asked again about a potential motive, Mr Farage said: “It could be an individual with a grudge. It could be somebody with serious problems.

“But what is certain to me is that you don’t arrive in the middle of a little country (lane) on the edge of Dartmoor, park on a drive and go into a house just before half past 12 in the middle of the day without the motive being there from the very start.

“I just personally think the idea of a burglary… It just makes no sense to me at all. No sense to me at all.”

Mr Farage revealed he had spoken twice to the Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police.

He added that Reform UK had been analysing abusive emails and threats sent to Ms Widdecombe in case there was a link to her killing.

He added: “We will do anything we can to support the police.

“For example, I’ve had our security teams going through all of our emails to pick out ones that were sent that were either directly to Ann or were abusive about Ann.

“We’re doing everything we can to support the police in every way.”

Paying tribute, Mr Farage continued: “She really loved this place.

“She loved the moor, she loved its wildlife, she enjoyed the panoramic views from her bungalow.

“While she was part of the community here and very well known, she also had that solitude and peace in her home, in her garden – it meant so very much to her.

“It seems extraordinary, on a beautiful place like this, to think of the not only untimely, but violent, barbaric manner of her death.
“She was a remarkable individual, redoubtable.

“I think the word was invented for her.

“Opponents knew exactly what to expect from her and at times I have to say colleagues felt the wrath of her tongue.

“She was the fiercest proponent of free speech I think I have ever met.

“She believed we had the freedom and the right to say things that insulted each other.”

Mr Farage attempted to visit Ms Widdecombe’s home to pay tribute but his car was blocked by the police cordon as forensic officers were still at the scene.

Ms Widdecombe had appeared on TalkTV at 8am on Wednesday morning and was due to be interviewed again at 2.15pm on Channel 5 that afternoon.

But concerns were reportedly raised when she stopped responding to messages.

The politician was found on Thursday morning by a carer covered in blood after being allegedly bludgeoned to death and sustaining a serious head wound.

Channel 5 star Dan Walker said: “Ann was due to appear on 5 Daytime on Wednesday afternoon but stopped responding to messages and didn’t turn up for the show.

“The team contacted her agent to ask them to check in on her.

“This information has been passed to police as it’s part of the investigation.”

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said in an update today: “We believe the attack took place on Wednesday 8 July at around 12.30pm.”

Cops previously said they were called to her home in Devon by the ambulance service at around 11.40am on Thursday.

They said at the time: “Sadly, 78-year-old Ms Widdecombe was located deceased within the property. She had sustained serious injuries.”

A 26-year-old man was arrested on Friday on suspicion of murder but he has since been released and is no longer part of the investigation, cops have said.

Devon and Cornwall Police has since confirmed it is still hunting a white male suspect.

In yesterday’s press conference, Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said that there was “no information” at this time to suggest the murder was a “politically motivated crime.”

Officers are carrying out an extensive forensic examination of the property and are also searching the surrounding area.