Ann Widdecombe, former Tory minister and Reform UK member, dies at 78
14 reported
Ann Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister and later a member of the Brexit party and Reform UK, has died at age 78, according to her management company, Cloud9 Management. Widdecombe served as a Conservative MP from 1987 to 2010 for the Kent constituency of Maidstone, later Maidstone and the Weald, and held ministerial positions in John Major’s government. She later became a member of the Brexit party in 2019 and served as an MEP for South West England until 2020, then followed Nigel Farage into Reform UK, appearing as its immigration spokesperson. Her management described her as loving political debate and still actively campaigning for Reform UK 16 years after leaving parliament. In her post-Commons career, she appeared on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2010, reaching the quarter-final. Tributes were paid by Nigel Farage, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, and a Downing Street spokesperson.
What’s reported
Ann Widdecombe died at age 78, as announced by her management, Cloud9 Management.
She was a Conservative MP from 1987 to 2010 for Maidstone, later Maidstone and the Weald.
She held ministerial positions in John Major’s government.
She clashed with Conservative colleague Michael Howard, describing him as having “something of the night about him.”
She also clashed with Michael Portillo and those she called “backbiters” who surrounded him when he failed in his 2001 Tory leadership bid.
She was a prominent Eurosceptic and supported the Vote Leave campaign in the 2016 Brexit referendum.
She was known for socially conservative views, including opposing abortion legality and wider LGBTQ+ rights, and faced criticism for defending a policy of chaining pregnant prisoners to their beds.
She became a member of the Brexit party in 2019 and served as an MEP for South West England from 2019 to 2020.
She followed Nigel Farage into Reform UK and appeared as its immigration spokesperson.
She appeared on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2010, partnered with Anton Du Beke, reaching the quarter-final.
She said she had no interest in sex and never married.
Nigel Farage called her “a force of nature” and said she was “the most incredibly loyal ally” in public.
Kemi Badenoch called her a “formidable politician” who was “always true to herself.”
A Downing Street spokesperson said she was “a distinctive figure in British politics for many years.”
Key figures
Ann Widdecombe, former Conservative minister, MP, MEP, and Reform UK member
Cloud9 Management, her representatives
Michael Howard, Conservative colleague
Michael Portillo, Conservative colleague
Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader
Kemi Badenoch, Conservative leader
Anton Du Beke, dance partner on Strictly Come Dancing
Sources: The Guardian
