Political leaders and TV stars 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.

They 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”.

She described Widdecombe as “a very fun and feisty woman who spoke her mind”.

“My heart is breaking for her family,” she said.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described Widdecombe as a “distinguished politician” and her death as a “significant loss”.

He called on people to “rise above any political differences”, adding that his thoughts are with her family “at this awful time”.

Starmer said he had spoken to Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle, Badenoch, Reform UK’s Nigel Farage, as well as MP Andy Burnham, “to urge everybody to come together”.

In a video posted on social media, Farage said Widdecombe was “an extraordinary woman” and “someone who gave her life to public service, to fighting for the things she believed in”.

He described her as “a devout Christian and somebody with strong socially conservative views. Perhaps not popular in modern Britain but that is what Ann believed in.”

Broadcaster Ashley James, who appeared on Celebrity Big Brother alongside Widdecombe in 2018, wrote in an Instagram post that she is “absolutely devastated” over her death.

She wrote that she and Widdecombe “couldn’t have been more different politically” and that they “clashed a lot” on the programme, but “she also had a profound impact on me” and “encouraged me to care less about pleasing everyone”.

James added that “disagreement didn’t have to mean a lack of humanity” and that she remembers “such fond memories of doing [Widdecombe’s] hair and makeup in the house”.

Piers Morgan said he and Widdecombe had texted from time to time, “most recently when we both had nasty falls and ended up in hospital around the same time”.

“She sustained her injury rescuing a mouse from her cat,” he wrote in an Instagram post. “That was typical Ann… a fiery, feisty and often hilariously funny battle-axe (she’d take that description as a compliment) on air, a heart of gold off air.”

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey described Widdecombe as “a woman of deep faith who devoted her life to public service. The idea that she could have been murdered is truly horrifying”.

He said his “thoughts and prayers are with her family and all who loved her”.

Andy Burnham, Labour’s likely incoming prime minister, said: “Ann gave a lifetime of public service, and it’s absolutely right that the police put all their resources into investigating this as swiftly as possible.”

Widdecombe’s neighbour Susan Coysh told the BBC she is “devastated,” describing her as “a character and a lovely lady”.

“I’m shocked. In this lovely setting where we live,” she said, adding she last saw Widdecombe at a petrol station 10 days ago.

“We used to say hello. She did keep herself to herself quite a bit… but she was approachable,” Coysh said.

A statement released by Widdecombe’s agent announcing her death on Friday morning made no mention of the specific circumstances of her death.

In a follow-up statement later on Friday, Widdecombe’s management said: “We are absolutely devastated by this news following a very traumatic and upsetting 24 hours.”

“We fully support the police in their investigations and we reiterate the family’s desire not to be contacted at this difficult time.”