Image @ BBC
Former British Cabinet minister and Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe has died at the age of 78, bringing to a close a public career that stretched across politics, broadcasting and campaigning.
Widdecombe served as the Conservative Member of Parliament for Maidstone, Kent, for 23 years and held ministerial positions in the Home Office and the Department for Employment under former Prime Minister Sir John Major between 1994 and 1997.
After leaving Westminster, she remained active in public life, gaining widespread recognition through television appearances, including the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 and Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.
A committed advocate of Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union, Widdecombe represented South West England as a Member of the European Parliament for the Brexit Party from 2019 to 2020.
She later joined Reform UK in 2023, where she served as the party’s spokesperson on immigration and justice.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage paid tribute, describing her as instrumental in strengthening support for Brexit during the 2019 European elections. He said her decision to stand for the Brexit Party significantly boosted the campaign and that she would be greatly missed.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch remembered Widdecombe as a determined public servant who never hesitated to defend her convictions.
Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith also praised her direct approach to politics, noting that her appearance on Strictly Come Dancing revealed a lighter side of her personality.
Author and former MP Gyles Brandreth, a longtime friend, described her as both entertaining and compassionate despite their political disagreements.
Former Conservative leader Lord Howard, who once had a well-known political rivalry with Widdecombe, called her an energetic and capable minister, recalling that the pair eventually reconciled after years of differences.
A spokesperson for Downing Street said Prime Minister paid tribute to Widdecombe’s dedication to public service and acknowledged her long-standing contribution to British politics.
Her representatives at Cloud 9 Management said her life was shaped by her Christian faith and unwavering commitment to serving the public.
They added that even years after leaving Parliament, she remained actively involved in campaigning for Reform UK.
The statement also reflected on her memorable run on Strictly Come Dancing, where viewers kept her in the competition despite critical reviews from the judges. Her performances earned her a place in the semi-finals, and she later described the experience as one of the most rewarding periods of her life.
Throughout her political career, Widdecombe frequently attracted attention for her traditional Catholic beliefs and conservative positions on issues such as abortion and LGBT rights.
In 2019, she faced criticism after suggesting scientific research might one day find a way to change sexual orientation.
Having converted to Catholicism in the 1990s, Widdecombe often described the decision as the most important of her life, saying she valued the Church’s firm moral teachings.
She also endured years of personal attacks over her appearance but consistently dismissed the insults with characteristic humour, refusing to let the criticism define her public life.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong