Ann Widdecombe's Life and Career
Ann Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister who later joined Reform UK, has passed away at the age of 78.
She was widely recognized before her transition into reality television, notably for her participation in Strictly Come Dancing, where she was known for her candid opinions and straightforward demeanor.
As a prominent figure on the right wing of British politics for many years and an early advocate of Brexit, Widdecombe joined Strictly in 2010 shortly after leaving Parliament. She had served as the Member of Parliament for Maidstone in Kent for over two decades.
Although not the most refined dancer—she described her own style as "galumphing"—she advanced to the semi-finals before being eliminated.
Her involvement in Strictly marked the beginning of a career in entertainment, which included appearances on Celebrity Big Brother and performing as the Evil Queen in a pantomime production of Snow White.
Broadcaster and longtime friend Gyles Brandreth characterized her as a "curious mix of Danny DeVito and Margaret Rutherford."
Widdecombe was born in Bath, Somerset, in 1947. She studied Latin at Birmingham University and then Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University. She was elected as a councillor for Runnymede District early in her career.
She was a member of the Conservative Christian Fellowship and held firmly socially conservative positions, opposing abortion, assisted dying, and gay rights, while supporting the reinstatement of the death penalty.
First elected to Parliament in 1987, she endured harsh criticism regarding her appearance, including a newspaper labeling her "Doris Karloff," referencing the old Hollywood horror actor Boris Karloff.
"I am toothy, dumpy, ugly, overweight, a spinster – what the hell."
Widdecombe was also outspoken in her criticism of fellow Conservative politicians, famously describing then Home Secretary Michael Howard as having "something of the night about him."
Despite being one of the few female MPs in the 1980s, she was dismissive of feminists, referring to them as "whingers." Reflecting on her political career in 2016, she stated:
"I never went round looking for problems so I never found them. The only problem I found as a woman MP were there were insufficient loos."
An avid animal lover, Widdecombe was among the few Conservative MPs to oppose fox hunting. Her affection for animals was evident in her creation of a section on her website, the Widdyweb, dedicated to the pet cats she lived with. She also adopted goats and served as patron of a donkey sanctuary.
Political Career and Later Life
Three years after entering Parliament, Widdecombe began her ministerial career as a junior social security minister, later advancing to the employment portfolio.
In 1995, she was appointed prisons minister, where she became involved in controversy after defending a policy that involved chaining pregnant prisoners to prevent escape attempts.
Following Labour's landslide victory in 1997, she served in William Hague's shadow cabinet as shadow health secretary from 1998 to 1999 and as shadow home secretary from 1999 to 2001.
Upon retiring from politics in 2010, she expressed disappointment at not being offered a seat in the House of Lords by then-Prime Minister David Cameron.
Widdecombe continued her public presence through writing, publishing four novels and an autobiography, and making numerous broadcast appearances, including guest hosting the news quiz show Have I Got News for You.
In 2013, she was honored with the papal title Dame of the Order of St Gregory for her contributions to politics and public life, particularly her opposition to abortion and assisted dying.
She converted to Catholicism in the 1990s, commenting to The Times:
"To have a church which calls a sin a sin and has done with it is a blessed relief."
Widdecombe returned to politics as a leading Brexit campaigner, winning a seat as a Brexit Party Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for South West England in the 2019 European Parliament elections, serving until the UK's departure from the EU in January 2020.
She rejoined the party, renamed Reform UK, in 2023 as their spokesperson for immigration and justice.
Widdecombe shared her London home with her widowed mother, Rita, until her mother's death in 2007.
Additional Information
Former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe dies at 78
UK MEPs urge EU to 'learn lessons' of Brexit
How well is David Cameron's book selling?
Departing MEPs leave their mark on art project
for our Politics Essential newsletter to read top political analysis, gain insight from across the UK and stay up to speed with the big moments. It'll be delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
