A 26-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murdering Ann Widdecombe has been released from custody.
The man was arrested on Friday after the former Tory MP was found dead in a pool of blood in her Dartmoor bungalow on Thursday morning.
The suspect is no longer part of the “fast-moving” investigation, Devon and Cornwall Police said.
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said: “Our priority remains identifying those responsible and ensuring that all available evidence is thoroughly examined.”
The force added that the remote property in Haytor, Devon, remained cordoned off while investigations continued on Saturday.
At a press conference on Friday, Longman said he was open-minded to the possibility that the suspected murder was politically motivated, but said the death was not being treated as terrorism.
He described the inquiry as being in its “early stages”, but said it was “moving at a significant pace”.
“I would appeal to anyone who may have information about this incident, however insignificant it may seem, to come forward and speak with us,” he added.
Widdecombe switched allegiance from the Tories to the Brexit Party in 2019 and later to Reform UK.
The alarm was raised on Thursday after a friend became concerned they had been unable to contact the 78-year-old former Government minister, who lived alone.
They asked a neighbour to check on her, but when the neighbour arrived at the secluded bungalow they made the discovery.
Officers, accompanied by paramedics, attended the property, but Widdecombe was declared dead at the scene.
A murder investigation was launched and, on Friday afternoon, police announced that a suspect had been arrested in Newton Abbot, about 18km from the scene.
Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, described the suspected killing as a “terrible reflection on modern Britain”.
In a video on X, he said he feared “things have become even more dangerous” to those in public life, particularly politicians.
“We don’t know what political motives there are, whether they exist at all. Was it a burglary gone wrong? We just don’t know. And I’m not going to speculate at this stage. I’m pleased the police are doing their job,” Farage said.
He added: “Rest in peace, Ann. A remarkable, principled woman, and a truly dreadful way to die, and a terrible reflection on modern Britain.
“And I do fear that for anybody in public life, or especially the political space, things have become even more dangerous today.”
Sir Keir Starmer urged people from across the political spectrum to come together after Widdecombe’s death.
Speaking to reporters from Chequers, he said he had spoken to Andy Burnham, his likely successor, Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, and Farage to “urge everybody to come together at a moment like this”.
“This is really shocking news, and my thoughts, I think all of our thoughts, will be with the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe at this awful time for them,” the Prime Minister said.
“Ann was a distinguished politician over many, many years with many achievements, and it’s a huge, huge loss.”
Badenoch said: “I’ve really struggled to find the words to say. Ann Widdecombe was a very fun and feisty woman who spoke her mind, and she was 78 years old, she was an elderly woman.
“I don’t understand how someone could do something so horrific to an elderly person. It was a nasty, horrific attack and my heart is breaking for her family.”
Widdecombe was a Tory MP from 1987 to 2010 for the Kent constituency of Maidstone – later Maidstone and the Weald – and held several ministerial positions in Sir John Major’s government.
She was remembered for her clash with colleague Michael Howard, the then home secretary, when she was Home Office minister, describing him as having “something of the night about him”.
In her post-Commons career, she appeared on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 – partnered with Anton Du Beke she made it to the semi-finals.
Widdecombe became a member of Farage’s Brexit Party in 2019 and served as an MEP representing South West England between 2019 and 2020.
She later became Reform’s immigration and justice spokesman and remained active in the media, appearing on TalkTV on Wednesday, the day before she was found dead.