Ann Widdecombe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ann Widdecombe
DSG
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Official portrait, 2019
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| Minister of State for Prisons | |
| In office 28 February 1995 – 2 May 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Michael Forsyth |
| Succeeded by | Joyce Quin |
| Minister of State for Employment | |
| In office 27 May 1993 – 5 July 1995 |
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| Preceded by | Patrick McLoughlin |
| Succeeded by | Lord Henley |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Security | |
| In office 30 November 1990 – 27 May 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Gillian Shephard |
| Succeeded by | William Hague |
| Member of the European Parliament for South West England |
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| In office 2 July 2019 – 31 January 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Julia Reid |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Member of Parliament for Maidstone and The Weald Maidstone (1987–1997) |
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| In office 11 June 1987 – 12 April 2010 |
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| Preceded by | John Wells |
| Succeeded by | Helen Grant |
| Shadow Cabinet offices | |
| 1998–1999 | Health |
| 1999–2001 | Home Department |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ann Noreen Widdecombe
4 October 1947 Bath, Somerset, England |
| Died | 9 July 2026 (aged 78) |
| Political party | Reform UK (2023–2026) |
| Alma mater | University of Birmingham Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford |
Ann Noreen Widdecombe (4 October 1947 – 9 July 2026) was a well-known British politician and television personality. She was a spokesperson for Reform UK from 2023 until her passing. Before that, she was a member of the Conservative Party. She served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Maidstone and The Weald from 1987 to 2010. Later, she was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for South West England from 2019 to 2020. She was also part of the Brexit Party before it became Reform UK.
Born in Bath, Somerset, Ann Widdecombe studied Latin at the University of Birmingham. She then continued her studies at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, focusing on philosophy, politics and economics. She changed her religious faith from Anglicanism to Roman Catholicism. She held important government roles, including Minister of State for Employment (1994–1995) and Minister of State for Prisons (1995–1997). She was also a senior figure in the opposition, known as the Shadow Cabinet, from 1998 to 2001.
After leaving Parliament in 2010, she became a popular television and radio personality. She was a strong supporter of the UK leaving the European Union (EU). She actively campaigned for Brexit in 2016. She briefly returned to politics in 2019 as an MEP for the Brexit Party. Ann Widdecombe believed in traditional values and conservative ideas. She was known for her strong support of animal welfare and her opposition to fox hunting.
Who Was Ann Widdecombe?
Ann Widdecombe was a well-known figure in British public life. She was famous for her long career in politics. She also became a popular personality on television.
She was known for her strong beliefs and clear way of speaking. She served her country in many important roles. Her career spanned several decades.
Early Life and Education
Ann Noreen Widdecombe was born on 4 October 1947 in Bath, Somerset, England. Her father worked for the Ministry of Defence. Her mother's family had roots in Ireland.
She attended schools in Singapore and Bath. Later, she went to the University of Birmingham to study Latin. She then continued her studies at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, focusing on philosophy, politics and economics.
Before becoming a politician, Ann Widdecombe worked for a company called Unilever. She also worked as an administrator at the University of London.
Starting a Political Career
Ann Widdecombe began her political journey by helping other politicians. From 1976 to 1978, she served as a local councillor in Surrey. She tried to become a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1979 and 1983.
Her hard work paid off in 1987. She was first elected to the House of Commons as an MP for the Conservative Party. She represented the area of Maidstone, which later became Maidstone and The Weald.
Serving in Government
Ann Widdecombe became part of Prime Minister John Major's government in 1990. She first served as a junior minister for Social Security. In 1993, she moved to the Department of Employment.
She was promoted to Minister of State in 1994. In 1995, she took on the important role of Minister of State for Prisons within the Home Office. During this time, she visited many prisons across the UK.
In Opposition and Later Roles
After the Conservative Party lost the 1997 general election, Ann Widdecombe took on roles in the Shadow Cabinet. This is a group of opposition politicians who mirror government ministers. She served as Shadow Secretary of State for Health from 1998 to 1999. Later, she became Shadow Home Secretary from 1999 to 2001.
She was known for her strong opinions. She once made a memorable comment about a fellow politician, Michael Howard. This comment was widely discussed in the media.
Ann Widdecombe decided to step down from Parliament in 2010. She had served as an MP for 23 years.
Important Political Views
Ann Widdecombe was known for her social conservative views. She believed in traditional values. She was also a strong supporter of Euroscepticism. This meant she believed the UK should not be part of the European Union.
She actively campaigned for the UK to leave the EU in 2016. She was also a passionate advocate for animal welfare. She consistently voted to ban fox hunting.
Return to Politics – Brexit Party
In 2019, Ann Widdecombe returned to politics. She became a candidate for the Brexit Party. She stood in the European Parliament elections for South West England.
She won her seat and became a Member of the European Parliament (MEP). She served until the UK officially left the EU in January 2020. She later joined Reform UK in 2023.
Media Work and Appearances
After leaving Parliament, Ann Widdecombe became a familiar face on television. She appeared in many popular shows. These included Celebrity Fit Club and Strictly Come Dancing.
She was a guest host on the news quiz Have I Got News for You. She also appeared in a Doctor Who episode. In 2018, she participated in Celebrity Big Brother.
She also hosted her own television and radio programmes. These shows often involved her giving advice or investigating social issues. She was known for her direct and honest style.
Stage Acting Career
Ann Widdecombe also enjoyed a career on stage. She performed in several Christmas pantomime shows. She often played roles like the Evil Queen or the Empress of China.
She made her stage debut in 2011 in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. She enjoyed playing different characters in these family-friendly shows.
Personal Life and Interests
Ann Widdecombe lived in Sutton Valence, Kent, during her time as an MP. After retiring, she moved to Haytor Vale in Devon. She shared her home with her mother for many years.
She was a great lover of animals, especially cats. She also adopted goats at a sanctuary. Ann Widdecombe enjoyed music, even though she described herself as "tone-deaf."
She converted to Roman Catholicism in 1993. She explained that she felt the Catholic Church was more consistent in its beliefs.
Outside of politics, she wrote several novels. She also wrote a weekly column for the Daily Express newspaper. Her autobiography, Strictly Ann: The Autobiography, was published in 2013.
Death
Ann Widdecombe passed away on 9 July 2026, at the age of 78.
Honours
- Ann Widdecombe was made an Honorary Fellow of Canterbury Christ Church University in 2009.
- She received an honorary degree from the University of Birmingham in 2012.
- The Holy See awarded her the title of Dame of the Order of St Gregory the Great (DSG) in 2013. This was for her contributions to politics and public life.
Selected Publications
Fiction
- 2000: The Clematis Tree
- 2002: An Act of Treachery
- 2005: Father Figure
- 2005: An Act of Peace
Non-fiction
- 1999: Inspired and Outspoken: the collected speeches of Ann Widdecombe
- 2004: The Mass is a Mess, with Martin Kochanski
