Ann Widdecombe, the former Conservative MP and later prominent figure in the Brexit Party and Reform UK, has died at the age of 78, with tributes already pouring in from across British politics.
Ann Widdecombe has died aged 78, her representative confirmed early on Friday morning. She served as Conservative MP for Maidstone, later Maidstone and The Weald, for over two decades before leaving the Commons in 2010, and went on to become one of the most prominent Eurosceptic voices in British politics, campaigning for Brexit as a Member of the European Parliament and later serving as Reform UK’s spokeswoman for immigration and justice.
From Cabinet Minister to Shadow Cabinet
Widdecombe held a number of ministerial roles during her time in Parliament under successive Conservative governments. She served as Employment Minister from 1994 to 1995, before becoming Prisons Minister under John Major from 1995 to 1997. She later moved into the shadow cabinet, serving as Shadow Health Secretary from 1998 to 1999 and Shadow Home Secretary from 1999 to 2001. Throughout her time as an MP, she was known for holding strong and sometimes unpopular positions within her own party, including her outspoken opposition to fox hunting, which she condemned as “cruel” and “rightly doomed,” despite most Conservative MPs voting to preserve the practice.
A Return to Politics Nearly a Decade Later
Widdecombe returned to frontline politics almost ten years after leaving Westminster, driven by frustration at the government’s failure to deliver Brexit on schedule. She stood as the Brexit Party’s MEP candidate for the South West in 2019, serving as a Member of the European Parliament until the UK formally left the EU. She continued her political involvement into the party’s next chapter, becoming Reform UK’s spokeswoman for immigration and justice in 2023, and had recently been campaigning on the ground during the Makerfield by-election.
A Public Figure Beyond Westminster
Widdecombe became known to audiences well beyond politics through her 2010 appearance on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, where she was partnered with professional dancer Anton du Beke. Though never a serious contender in the competition itself, she won considerable public affection and support from viewers throughout her run on the show.
After leaving Parliament, she continued to build a varied public career, appearing as a stage actor in pantomimes including Aladdin and Snow White, and taking part in Celebrity Big Brother in 2018. Her published work included several novels, alongside her autobiography, Strictly Ann: The Autobiography, which was described as “forthright” and “candid.”
Tributes From Across British Politics
News of Widdecombe’s death has already prompted an outpouring of tribute from figures across the political spectrum, with many remembering her as one of the defining personalities of the British right. She has been described by members of the public as a “great lady,” a “rare character,” and a “towering legend,” reflecting the wide affection she commanded even among those who did not always share her views.
