Police investigating the alleged murder of Ann Widdecombe have said there is "nothing to suggest it was politically motivated" as they continue to question a man.
Devon and Cornwall Police added they are not looking for anyone else in connection with her death, following the arrest of the 28-year-old white British man in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
The former MP, 78, was found dead on Thursday at her home in Haytor, Devon, having sustained serious injuries.
Police activity was seen throughout Sunday at a house in Rotherham believed to be connected to the investigation, after neighbours described officers arriving on Saturday night to make an arrest.
Police earlier said an arrest was carried out shortly after 21:00 BST on Saturday by officers at Counter Terrorism Police North East and South Yorkshire Police on behalf of the force.
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said officers remained "open-minded" about a potential motive and that there was not thought to be any threat to the wider public.
At least two police vehicles were seen parked outside the property in Rotherham, which was cordoned off while officers and forensic teams worked at the scene.
One neighbour, Raed Astle, told the BBC: "I was making some food in the kitchen and looked out the window, there was loads of banging, and there was armed police in the pathway and they just went into the house and pulled him out."
Another neighbour Claire Whybrow said: "We've never seen so many police."
"We didn't know what was going off", she added.
Several newspapers have reported CCTV showing a man outside the address linked to the murder suspect, before driving off on the morning Widdecombe was believed to have been attacked.
The man is said to have been seen putting "some kind of wooden stick" into the passenger side of a red car, before driving off, the Telegraph reported.
A neighbour told BBC News police took a red car off the drive.
Rotherham is approximately 270 miles (430km) from Widdecombe's home.
There is no information to suggest the attack on Widdecombe was terrorism-related, Longman told reporters on Sunday.
The family of the former Conservative minister, and later Reform UK spokesperson, have been informed of the updates and are being supported by specialist officers.
Devon and Cornwall Police has received more than 120 reports of information after making a public appeal, and Longman asked anyone who had not yet come forward to do so "as a priority".
He reiterated calls asking people not to speculate, especially about a potential motive, saying this was "unhelpful" for the investigation and "distressing" to Widdecombe's relatives.
Longman said a "heightened" police presence would remain in the area over the coming weeks.
Chief Constable James Vaughan said Devon and Cornwall Police had "mounted an extraordinary response to a horrific murder of a very prominent public figure" and shown "British policing at its very best".
He said the investigation had been running at "lightning pace" over the past 48 hours, adding: "I am really pleased that we have a suspect firmly in custody."
In a statement, Alison Hernandez, police and crime commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said it has been a "very unsettling time" for the local community.
"One of the lines that the police are always saying is 'don't speculate' – my view is everyone is going to speculate, but just do it in the safety of your own home or down the pub," she told reporters.
A group of around 40 mourners, including senior Reform figures, gathered in Haytor Vale to pay tribute to Widdecombe on Sunday.
Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice told reporters he had last spoken to her on Monday and said he "nearly fell over with shock and horror" when he heard of her death.
"We have lost an absolute colossus, a legend in all our lifetime," he told the crowd.
Widdecombe served as the Conservative MP for Maidstone for 23 years, holding ministerial roles in John Major's government between 1994 and 1997.
Following her departure from the Commons in 2010, Widdecombe appeared on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing that year, and was a runner-up on Celebrity Big Brother eight years later.
She joined the Brexit Party in 2019 where she represented South West England as its MEP from 2019 to 2020.
News of Widdecombe's death was first released by her management agency on Friday morning.
Later that day, Devon and Cornwall Police issued a statement saying they had launched a murder investigation. On Friday evening they said they had arrested a 26-year-old white British man. He was released the following day and the force said he was no longer part of the investigation.
The second arrest of the 28-year-old man took place later on Saturday.
There has been an outpouring of shock and grief from across the political divide following the news of her death.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to Widdecombe, describing her death as a "significant loss" as he called on people to "rise above" political differences.
"My heart is breaking for her family," said Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, describing Widdecombe as a "very fun and feisty woman".
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who visited Dartmoor to pay his respects to Widdecombe, described her as a "remarkable individual" and "the fiercest defender of free speech".
"She was an extraordinary lady," shadow chancellor Mel Stride, MP for Central Devon – Widdecombe's constituency – told BBC One's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme.
"I was always struck both by the fact she had real true conviction, strong personality, yet she had that twinkle in her eye, that enormous energy and that great sense of humour," he said, describing the combination as "quite rare" and "rather special".
Peter Horrell, her personal driver of 10 years, was among those who lay flowers outside her home.
He said Widdecombe had "never mentioned any fear" for her safety and loved living in the tiny village she had made her home.
A 28-year-old white British national has been arrested in South Yorkshire, police say.
The residents of a tiny Devon village are left in shock after the death of Ann Widdecombe.
A 26-year-old white British man arrested on suspicion of her murder has been released and is no longer part of the investigation.
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service says it believes the death to have been a tragic accident.
Retired police pair will need to eat meals in their canoe to avoid attracting bears.
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