A 28-year-old man from Rotherham has been charged with the murder of the former MP and Reform party spokesperson Ann Widdecombe.

Joshua Kerry has been charged with Widdecombe’s murder and will appear at Westminster magistrates court on Tuesday, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

Widdecombe’s body was found with “serious injuries” by the ambulance service at her home in Haytor, Devon, at 11.40am on Thursday 9 July.

Devon and Cornwall police subsequently said they believed the 78-year-old was attacked the day before at 12.30pm.

Frank Ferguson, chief crown prosecutor of the CPS special crime and counter-terrorism division, said: “We have decided to prosecute Joshua Kerry for murder following a police investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe in Haytor, Dartmoor.

“Police enquiries into the defendant’s motives are ongoing, including a potential political or terrorist connection.

“Our prosecutors have worked closely with the police to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring this case to court, and we will continue working with them as their investigation progresses.

“We remind all concerned that proceedings against the defendant are active and he has the right to a fair trial.

“It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information which could in anyway prejudice these proceedings.”

Last Monday, counter-terrorism policing south-east took the case off Devon and Cornwall police after new information and evidence came to light.

The suspect, who was described by police officers as a white British national, is in police custody after being arrested in Rotherham.

Devon and Cornwall police initially arrested a 26-year-old man from Newton Abbott in Devon, but later released him and said he was no longer part of the investigation.