The pair were long-lasting political allies all the way to the Reform UK MP's resignation last week

Nigel Farage has branded Ann Widdecombe's death a "terrible reflection on modern Britain".

The former Conservative MP, Brexit Party MEP and government minister was found dead at her Dartmoor property in Devon on Thursday morning.

Devon and Cornwall Police have since confirmed a murder investigation is underway and that a 26-year-old white British national had been arrested.

No information so far indicates the incident was politically-motivated, the force said in a statement earlier today. However, they confirmed they remained "open-minded".

Mr Farage has now issued an emotional statement after officers confirmed the arrest and nature of Ms Widdecombe's death.

The pair go way back as Ms Widdecombe and Mr Farage served as members of the European Parliament together, with the former Tory later becoming the Brexit supremo's party spokeswoman for justice and immigration.

Before Reform UK, she left her mark on the party's precursor, the Brexit Party, where both politicians campaigned ferociously for the UK to leave the European Union.

In her final media appearance on Wednesday morning, Ms Widdecombe defended her party's leader over his decision to resign as Clacton MP and trigger a by-election.

Now, paying tribute to the political veteran after her sudden death, Mr Farage shared he was "deeply upset" by the circumstances surrounding her death.

He said: "I am deeply, deeply upset by the nature of her death. I’m pleased the police have caught somebody, a 26-year-old man.

“We don’t know what political motives 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."

Mr Farage said that Britain was a "much poorer" place without Ms Widdecombe while Reform UK was "certainly a much worse place" too.

LATEST TRIBUTES TO ANN WIDDECOMBE:

Mr Farage said he had expected the political veteran to join him on the campaign trail out in Clacton. "Sadly, that is not going to happen," he 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 to them."

Mr Farage has openly spoken about fears over his own security and safety, with the leader often facing public threats.

Over the course of his political career, he has been the victim of unruly attacks on several occasions, from daylight eggings to thrown milkshakes and once finding himself trapped in a pub as aggressors closed in.

Among the controversy lies a £5million donation from Thailand-based crypto billionaire Chris Harborne, which Mr Farage told journalists was to go toward lifetime security.

He described the importance of his personal security and claimed he would need protection "until the day that I die".

Mr Farage earlier declared he has "never been angrier" after one of his daughter's safety was "intimidated" by the mainstream media.

The Times newspaper published a picture of his daughter's home, with Mr Farage claiming there was no public interest in his daughter or any other family member being "harangued" by reporters.

The leader said: "I will not tolerate intimidation of my family. I will not tolerate the location of where they live being revealed. I will not tolerate any of my family being endangered because of what I choose to do in public life.

"So yes, you can ask, am I angry? I've never been angrier in my life."

Announcing his resignation last week, Mr Farage claimed he was "subject to constant demonisation by the press for daring to be outside the consensual view on many issues".

He added: "I've been attacked again and again, and I am the most physically and verbally attacked public figure or politician of modern times."