Ann Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister and prominent figure on the right of British politics, has died at the age of 78.
Widdecombe, who later became a vocal supporter of Brexit and joined the Reform UK party, was a household name for decades. Before her transition into reality television, she served as the Member of Parliament for Maidstone for over 20 years. She joined the cast of "Strictly Come Dancing" in 2010, shortly after leaving Parliament, where her forthright views and distinctive persona made her a memorable contestant. Despite describing her dancing as "galumphing," she reached the semi-final of the competition.
Her post-parliamentary career extended to other television programs, including "Celebrity Big Brother," and theatrical roles, such as playing the Evil Queen in "Snow White."
Born in Bath in 1947, Widdecombe studied Latin at Birmingham University and Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Oxford University. She began her political career as a Runnymede District councillor before being elected as a Member of Parliament in 1987. Throughout her political tenure, she held staunchly socially conservative views, opposing abortion, assisted dying, and gay rights, and advocating for the reintroduction of the death penalty. She was a member of the Conservative Christian Fellowship.
Widdecombe was known for her resilience in the face of personal remarks, including those about her appearance. She once quipped, "I am toothy, dumpy, ugly, overweight, a spinster – what the hell." She was also unafraid to offer sharp critiques of her political colleagues, famously remarking that then-Home Secretary Michael Howard had "something of the night about him."
Despite being one of the few female MPs in Parliament during the 1980s, Widdecombe expressed little affinity for feminism, characterizing feminists as "whingers." Reflecting on her time in Parliament, she once commented on the practicalities, stating, "The only problem I found as a woman MP were there were insufficient loos."
A passionate animal lover, Widdecombe diverged from her party on some issues, notably opposing fox hunting. Her commitment to animal welfare led her to establish a section on her website dedicated to her cats and to become a patron of a donkey sanctuary. She also adopted goats.
