Ann Widdecombe death: Former Conservative minister and firebrand TV personality dies aged 78

Ann Widdecombe death: Former Conservative minister and firebrand TV personality dies aged 78 The vocal Brexit campaigner also appeared on Strictly and Celebrity Big Brother - Bookmark Former Conservative minister turned Reform UK member and Strictly Come Dancing star Anne Widdecombe has died at 78. Her management confirmed the former MP and MEP’s death on Friday morning, saying she would be missed “greatly”. Widdecombe served as an MP for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years, from 1987 to 2010, and was a minister of state for prisons and employment in John Major’s government. She held the posts of shadow home secretary and shadow health secretary in opposition, and later went on to join Reform UK and become a vocal champion of Brexit. Downing Street said the prime minister had been “saddened” to hear of Miss Widdecombe’s death. A spokesperson for Sir Keir Starmer said: “She was a distinctive figure in British politics for many years, and he pays tribute to the conviction and dedication with which she served her country.” “It is with great sadness that today we announce the death of the Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe, DSG,” a statement from Cloud9 Management, which represented her for more than a decade, said. “We send our deepest condolences to Ann’s family and friends. We ask that the family’s wish not to be contacted at this sad time is respected.” Widdecombe stepped down from the House of Commons at the 2010 election and went on to compete on Strictly Come Dancing, where she was partnered with Anton Du Beke. She later appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, where she finished second, in 2018. She was also known for her socially conservative views, which included opposing the legality of abortion and widening rights for the LGBTQ+ community during her Commons career. The statement from her agents said that her career was “driven by her strong Christian values and commitment to public service”. Despite leaving parliament 16 years ago, she was “still actively campaigning for Reform UK” up until her death, they said. “For many, of course, she will be best (or worst?) remembered for her unforgettable appearances on Strictly Come Dancing, defying the judges week after week as the public delighted in her unsuccessful attempts to follow the choreography of the long-suffering Anton Du Beke.” Widdecombe returned to politics in 2019 with the Brexit Party – later renamed Reform UK – and won the southwest England seat in the European Parliament election. She held the seat until the UK left the EU on 31 January 2020, before becoming Reform UK’s immigration and justice spokesperson from 2023 to 2026. Widdecombe was active on the speaking circuit and wrote a column for the Daily Express for 20 years, and in 2013, she published her memoir, Strictly Ann. Health secretary James Murray said Ann Widdecombe was “a part of our politics”. He told Times Radio: “I think she’s been such a large part of our politics for many years. I mean, she was never shy of having quite firm views and sharing them quite willingly, and I can’t say I always agreed with her views, but she was such a part of our politics. “I think everyone can kind of recognise the contribution that she made to politics and the role that she played in our public life.” Subscribe here to get the latest updates from The Independent