Detectives have arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of murdering former MP Ann Widdecombe.
Devon and Cornwall Police said a man, aged 26, was arrested on Friday afternoon in Newton Abbot, on the edge of Dartmoor.
The incident is not being treated as terrorism.
Police remain open-minded over whether she knew her suspected killer.
The former Tory minister, who defected to Reform UK, was found at her address in Dartmoor, Devon on Thursday having sustained serious injuries.
On Friday, Devon and Cornwall Police announced that the force had launched a murder inquiry into the death of the 78-year-old.
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman told a press conference on Friday afternoon: “A 26-year-old man was arrested in Newton Abbot this afternoon on suspicion of the murder of Ann Widdecombe.
“The suspect, who is a white British national, remains in police custody while inquiries continue.”
He added: “While we work closely with our partners and consulted counter-terrorism policing as part of our initial inquiries, the incident is not being treated as terrorism.
“A cordon remains in place at the property, while specialist officers continue forensic examinations.
“There are road closures in place around the scene, and the public will see significant police activity in the area while detectives and other officers continue house-to-house and CCTV inquiries.
“This is an extremely tragic incident. Our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of Miss Widdecombe in this very difficult time.”
Speaking before news of the arrest, outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “I think this is really important that this is a moment where we rise above any political differences, the political divide.
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“The single most important thing at the moment is that all of us and the public help the police identify the individual suspected and make sure he’s arrested as quickly as possible.”
Anyone who may have information, or who saw anything suspicious in the vicinity of the village, has been asked to come forward by police.
Ms Widdecombe, who appeared on Talk radio on Wednesday was a Conservative MP from 1987-2010 for the Kent constituency of Maidstone, later Maidstone and the Weald.
She became a member of the Brexit party from 2019 and served as an MEP, representing South West England, between 2019 and 2020.
She was also a member of that party’s successor, Reform UK and had appeared on hit BBC show Strictly Come Dancing in 2010.
The Home Secretary shared her condolences with Ms Widdecombe's family, adding that the circumstances of her death are "extremely distressing".
In a post on X, Shabana Mahmood wrote: “I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of Ann Widdecombe. The circumstances of her death are extremely distressing and my thoughts are with Ann's family and loved ones.
"Ann's dedication to public service was decades long, and she was a true servant of her constituents.”
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said she was “stunned” to hear police had opened a murder inquiry.
“Ann Widdecombe was a very fun and feisty woman who spoke her mind and she was 78 years old, she was an elderly woman,” she said.