A portrait of former Member of Parliament Ann Widdecombe has been displayed in Portcullis House, a building housing parliamentary offices, as a tribute following her death last month. Widdecombe, who was 78, was found dead with serious head injuries at her home in Devon. A 28-year-old man, Joshua Kerry, has been charged with her murder.
The framed photograph was put up on Tuesday, ahead of MPs' return from their summer recess. Helen Grant, the current MP for Maidstone and The Weald, which Widdecombe formerly represented, confirmed the display. "I am delighted that the Speaker of the House of Commons has confirmed that this portrait of Ann Widdecombe will be on show in Parliament, following her tragic death earlier this year," Grant stated.
Grant added that the portrait is "the start of a lasting tribute to Ann" and that work is underway "to explore a more permanent commemoration on the Parliamentary estate." The photograph chosen for the display was taken in 2010 in the Cloister Corridor of the Palace of Westminster.
Widdecombe served as a Conservative MP for Maidstone from 1997 to 2010. After leaving Parliament, she became a prominent media personality and a spokeswoman for Reform UK.