Kemi Badenoch said the Conservative Party was "reeling" as the former minister's death is investigated as murder.

Political leaders and a TV star have expressed their sadness and shock at the death of Ann Widdecombe as police investigate the case as murder. Anton Du Beke, who was her partner on Strictly Come Dancing in 2010, said he was devastated by her death, which he called the "saddest of news". "I had the most brilliant time with Ann on Strictly Come Dancing, she became a real friend, she was fun, she was upbeat, she was positive, she was supportive, she was game, wanted to enter into the spirit of the whole thing," he said in a video on X posted shortly before the murder probe was announced. Widdecombe, 78, was found in her Devon home on Thursday morning with serious injuries, police say. Police say they have arrested a 26-year-old white British man on suspicion of murder. Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman told journalists the case is not being treated as a terrorist incident and there is currently "no information" that there was a political motivation involved in the death of the former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokeswoman. Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party for which Widdecombe served as shadow home secretary from 1999 to 2001, said the party was "reeling". Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described Widdecombe as a "distinguished politician" and her death as a "significant loss".