The 78-year-old was found with "visible injuries" at her home in Devon on 9 July.

The cause of Ann Widdecombe's death is yet to be established, the opening of an inquest into her death has heard. The 78-year-old former MP and MEP was found dead at her home in Devon on 9 July with "visible injuries" Exeter Corner's Court heard. Senior coroner Philip Spinney said a post-mortem examination had taken place and "at this stage the precise medical cause of death has yet to be established". Joshua Kerry, 28, from Rotherham in South Yorkshire, has arrived at Westminister Magistrates' Court where he is due to appear charged with her murder. Spinney, senior coroner for Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, said the inquest was now adjourned "until the conclusion of the criminal proceedings". Widdecombe was found unresponsive in her home by an employee who carried out a welfare check due to her being "uncontactable", the hearing heard. Emergency services were called, but she was pronounced dead at 12:20 BST on Thursday, 9 July. Kerry was first arrested on suspicion of murder two days after former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokeswoman, Widdecombe, 78, was found with serious injuries at her home in Haytor, Devon.