Ann Widdecombe
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Who is this?
Ann Noreen Widdecombe (4 October 1947 – c. 8 July 2026) was a British politician and television personality. As a member of the Conservative Party, she was Member of Parliament (MP) for Maidstone and The Weald and the former Maidstone constituency from 1987 to 2010. She was a member of the Brexit Party from 2019 and served as the Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for South West England from 2019 to 2020. She joined Reform UK in 2023 and served as the party's Immigration and Justice spokesperson from 2023 until her death in 2026. Born in Bath, Somerset, Widdecombe read Latin at the University of Birmingham, then PPE at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. She was a religious convert from Anglicanism to Roman Catholicism and was a member of the Conservative Christian Fellowship. She served as Minister of State for Employment from 1994 to 1995 and Minister of State for Prisons from 1995 to 1997. She later served in the Shadow Cabinet of William Hague as Shadow Secretary of State for Health from 1998 to 1999 and Shadow Home Secretary from 1999 to 2001. She was appointed to the Privy Council in 1997. Widdecombe stood down from the House of Commons at the 2010 general election. From 2002 she made numerous television and radio appearances, including as a television presenter. She was a contestant on the eighth series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2010, and was runner-up of the twenty-first series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2018. A prominent Eurosceptic, in 2016 she supported the Vote Leave campaign to withdraw the United Kingdom from the European Union (EU). Widdecombe returned to politics as the lead candidate for the Brexit Party in South West England at the 2019 European Parliament election; she won the seat in line with results nationally and served until the country left the EU on 31 January 2020. In the general election of December 2019, she fought Plymouth Sutton and Devonport for the Brexit Party, where she came third but retained her deposit. Ideologically, Widdecombe identified as a social conservative and stressed the importance of traditional values. As a member of the House of Commons, she opposed the legality of abortion, opposed granting LGBT people legal rights such as the same age of consent as heterosexuals, and opposed the repeal of Section 28. She supported the reintroduction of the death penalty for murder. She was opposed to all forms of assisted dying. She supported rigorous laws on animal protection and was opposed to fox hunting. Widdecombe was found dead at her home on Dartmoor, Devon, on 9 July 2026, aged 78. Devon and Cornwall Police have launched a murder investigation.
Career
- 1947Born
- 2013Won Dame of the Order of St. Gregory the Great
- 2026Passed away
- Member of Conservative Christian Fellowship
Trivia
- •Place of birth: Bath
- •Citizenship: United Kingdom
- •Known as: politician, autobiographer, writer, broadcaster
What happened recently
Ann Widdecombe murder: Police ‘not looking for anyone else’ after man (28) arrested
UK police say no political link found in investigation into murder of former minister Widdecombe
Ann Widdecombe death: Man, 28, arrested on suspicion of murder in South Yorkshire
'Nothing to suggest' Ann Widdecombe killing was politically motivated, police say
Police urge people to stop 'distressing' speculation over Ann Widdecombe’s death
Ann Widdecombe - new police statement in full as they receive 120 reports on 'murder'
Ann Widdecombe to be honoured in Strictly tribute episode amid investigation
Ann Widdecombe ‘murder’ not thought to be politically motivated, cops say – as man arrested 270 miles away from her home
Ann Widdecombe detectives not looking for anyone else after 'horrific murder'
Police say nothing to suggest political motive after man, 28 arrested on suspicion of killing politician
Ann Widdecombe murder probe: 'Suspicious' driver seen near former minister's home before her death
Chilling final texts, mystery car in drive & crucial 30-min ‘attack window’ – all we know about Ann Widdecombe ‘murder’
Man, 28, arrested on suspicion of murdering Ann Widdecombe 270 miles away from her home as investigation continues
New twist in Ann Widdecombe's affairs investigation as make police statement
Thin Blue Line actor tears apart attack on Ann Widdecombe calling her 'deeply bigoted'
Second arrest in British politician Ann Widdecombe’s murder probe after first suspect released
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