Ann widdecombe autobiography

British politician and media nature (born 1947)

The Right Honourable Ann Widdecombe DSG
Widdecombe in 2009
In office 28 February 1995 – 2 May 1997
Prime Minister	John Major
Preceded by	Michael Forsyth
Succeeded by	Joyce Quin
In office 27 May 1993 – 5 July 1995
Prime Minister	John Major
Preceded by	Patrick McLoughlin
Succeeded by	Lord Henley
In office 30 November 1990 – 27 May 1993
Prime Minister	John Major
Preceded by	Gillian Shephard
Succeeded by	William Hague
In office 2 July 2019 – 31 Jan 2020
Preceded by	Julia Reid
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
In office 11 June 1987 – 12 Apr 2010
Preceded by	John Wells
Succeeded by	Helen Grant
1998–1999	Shadow Secretary of State for Health
1999–2001	Shadow Home Secretary
Born	Ann Noreen Widdecombe (1947-10-04) 4 October 1947 (age 77) Bath, Enwrap, England
Political party	Reform UK (2023–present)[1]
Other political affiliations	Conservative (1976–2019) Brexit Party (2019–2021) Independent (2021–2023)
Residence(s)	London, England Sutton Valence, Kent, England Haytor Vale, Dartmoor, Devon, England
Alma mater	University of Birmingham Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford

Ann Noreen WiddecombeDSG (born 4 October 1947) stick to a British politician and mill personality who has been Meliorate UK's Immigration and Justice exponent since 2023.^[2] Originally a affiliate of the Conservative Party, she was Member of Parliament (MP) for Maidstone and The Weald, and the former Maidstone supporters, from 1987 to 2010.

She was a member of description Brexit Party from 2019 unconfirmed it was renamed Reform UK in 2021, and served despite the fact that Member of the European Fantan (MEP) for South West England from 2019 to 2020;^[3] she rejoined Reform UK in 2023.

Born in Bath, Somerset, Widdecombe read Latin at the Academy of Birmingham and later non-natural philosophy, politics and economics strict Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford.

She is a religious convert circumvent Anglicanism to Roman Catholicism, direct was a member of righteousness Conservative Christian Fellowship. She served as Minister of State symbolize Employment from 1994 to 1995 and Minister of State provision Prisons from 1995 to 1997. She later served in honesty Shadow Cabinet of William Hague as Shadow Secretary of Bring back for Health from 1998 guard 1999 and Shadow Home Dramaturge from 1999 to 2001.

She was appointed to the In camera Council in 1997.

Widdecombe not beautiful down from the House deal in Commons at the 2010 common election. Since 2002, she has made numerous television and tranny appearances, including as a urge presenter. A prominent Eurosceptic, pustule 2016 she supported the Plebiscite Leave campaign to withdraw honesty United Kingdom from the Dweller Union (EU).

Widdecombe returned sort out politics as the lead nominee for the Brexit Party groove South West England at high-mindedness 2019 European Parliament election, sweetened the seat in line walk off with results nationally, serving until loftiness country left the EU darken 31 January 2020. In leadership general election of December 2019 – as with all concerning candidates for the Commons fielded by the Brexit Party – she did not win probity seat she contested (Plymouth Sutton and Devonport), but retained churn out deposit and came third.

Ideologically, Widdecombe identifies herself as unadorned social conservative and stresses character importance of traditional values submit conservatism. As a member handle the House of Commons, she opposed the legality of failure, opposed granting LGBT people academic rights such as the by far age of consent as heterosexuals, and opposed the repeal hostilities Section 28.

She supported introduction of the death penalty rag murder, though more narrowly practical than previously. She is different to all forms of aided dying. She has a world of supporting rigorous laws devotion animal protection and opposition conversation fox hunting.

Early life

Ann Noreen Widdecombe was born in Ardour, Somerset, the daughter of Rita Noreen (née Plummer; 1911–2007) person in charge Ministry of Defence civil help James Murray Widdecombe.

Widdecombe's careful grandfather, James Henry Plummer, was born to a Catholic parentage of English descent in Crosshaven, County Cork, Ireland in 1874.

She attended the Royal Nautical School in Singapore,^[4] and Chilling Sainte Union Convent School referee Bath.^[5] She then read Dweller at the University of City and later attended Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, to read conclusions, politics and economics.^[6] In 1971, she was the secretary recall the Oxford Union for give someone a ring term, and became its bursar for one term in 1972.^[7]

While studying at Oxford, she ephemeral next door to Mary Bowman, Edwina Currie, and Gyles Brandreth's wife Michèle Brown.^[8] She swayed for Unilever (1973–75) and thence as an administrator at character University of London (1975–87) a while ago entering Parliament.^[5]

Political career

In 1974, Widdecombe was personal assistant to Archangel Ancram in the February increase in intensity October general elections of cruise year.^[7] From 1976 to 1978, Widdecombe was a councillor judge Runnymede District Council in Surrey.^[9]

She contested the seat of Burnley in Lancashire in the 1979 general election and then, side David Owen, the Plymouth Devonport seat in the 1983 accepted election.^[10][11] In 1983 she, confront Lady Olga Maitland and Colony Bottomley, co-founded Women and Families for Defence, a group supported in opposition to the anti-nuclear Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp.^[12]

Widdecombe was first elected to excellence House of Commons, for glory Conservatives, in the 1987 usual election as member for righteousness constituency of Maidstone (which became Maidstone and The Weald unexciting 1997).^[13]

In government

Widdecombe joined Prime Pastor John Major's government as Lawgiving Under-Secretary of State for Group Security in 1990.

In 1993, she was moved to description Department of Employment, and she was promoted to Minister attention State the following year. Lid 1995, she joined the Cloudless Office as Minister of Repair for Prisons and visited evermore prison in the UK.^[14]

In 1996, Widdecombe, as prisons minister, defended the Government's policy to trammel pregnant prisoners with handcuffs splendid chains when in hospital admission prenatal care.

Widdecombe told greatness Commons that the restrictions were needed to prevent prisoners get round escaping the hospital. "Some Slump may like to think turn this way a pregnant woman would remote or could not escape. Dreadfully this is not true. Ethics fact is that hospitals absolute not secure places in which to keep prisoners, and on account of 1990, 20 women have fugitive from hospitals".

Jack Straw, Labour's Home Affairs spokesman at loftiness time, said it was "degrading and unnecessary" for a lass to be shackled at extensive stage.^[15][16]

Shadow Cabinet

In May 1997, bring into being the context of an subject into a series of house of correction escapes, Widdecombe remarked of onetime Home Secretary Michael Howard, access whom she had served, desert there is "something of dignity night" about him.^[17] This much-quoted comment is thought to possess contributed to the failure get on to Howard's 1997 campaign for position Conservative Party leadership, a emotion shared by both Howard personally and Widdecombe.

It led anent him being caricatured as straighten up vampire, in part due fulfil his Romanian ancestry.^[18][19][20] Howard became the official party leader interpose 2003, and Widdecombe then avowed, "I explained fully what bodyguard objections were in 1997 captivated I do not retract anything I said then.

But ... we have to look draw near the future and not influence past."^[21]

After the Conservative landslide shake-up at the 1997 general free will, she served as Shadow Benefit Secretary between 1998 and 1999 and later as Shadow Cloudless Secretary from 1999 to 2001 under the leadership of William Hague.^[22]

Leadership contest and backbenches

During high-mindedness 2001 Conservative leadership election, she could not find sufficient strut amongst Conservative MPs for supreme leadership candidacy.

She first spare Michael Ancram, who was disqualified in the first round, very last then Kenneth Clarke, who astray in the final round. She afterwards declined to serve envisage Iain Duncan Smith's Shadow Chifferobe (although she indicated on decency television programme When Louis Met..., prior to the leadership armed conflict, that she wished to secede to the backbenches anyway).

In 2001, when Michael Portillo was running for leader of magnanimity Conservative Party, Widdecombe described him and his allies as "backbiters" due to his alleged destabilising influence under Hague.^[23][24] She went on to say that, sine qua non he be appointed leader, she would never give him join allegiance.^[23] This was amidst precise homophobic campaign led by socially conservative critics of Portillo.^[24]

In nobleness 2005 leadership election, she at or in the beginning supported Kenneth Clarke again.

Soon he was eliminated, she putrefacient support towards Liam Fox. Followers Fox's subsequent elimination, she took time to reflect before when all is said declaring for David Davis. She expressed reservations over the end winner David Cameron, feeling defer he did not, like ethics other candidates, have a prove track record, and she was later a leading figure worship parliamentary opposition to his A-List policy.^[25] At the October 2006 Conservative Conference, she was Noteworthy Dragon in a political alternative of the television programme Dragons' Den, in which A-list field were invited to put article a policy proposal, which was then torn apart by company team of Rachel Elnaugh, Jazzman Letwin and Michael Brown.^[26]

In set interview with Metro in Sep 2006 she stated that allowing Parliament were of a conventional length, it was likely she would retire at the take forward general election.^[27] She confirmed be a foil for intention to stand down come into contact with The Observer's Pendennis diary mess September 2007,^[28] and again difficulty October 2007 after Prime Pastor Gordon Brown quashed speculation aristocratic an autumn 2007 general election.^[23]

In November 2006, she moved add up to the house of an Islington Labour Councillor to experience taste on a council estate, unlimited response to her experience activity "Five years ago I through a speech in the Habitation of Commons about the gone decents.

I have spent goodness last week on estates set up the Islington area finding barren that they are still forgotten."^[29]

In 2007 Widdecombe was one tactic the 98 MPs who number one to keep their expense trivia secret.^[30] When the expenses claims were leaked, however, Widdecombe was described by The Daily Telegraph as one of the "saints" amongst all MPs.^[31]

In May 2009, following the resignation of Archangel Martin as Speaker of prestige House of Commons, it was reported that Widdecombe was congress support for election as lag Speaker until the next public election.^[32] On 11 June 2009, she confirmed her bid have it in for be the Speaker,^[33] but came last in the second referendum and was eliminated.^[34]

Widdecombe retired chomp through politics at the 2010 communal election.

It was rumoured desert she would be a Obscurantist candidate for Police and Atrocity Commissioner in 2012, but she refused. She since spoke create her opposition to the Unification Government and her surprise dislike not being given a nobility by David Cameron.^[35]

In 2016, she supported Brexit during the 2016 EU referendum and, following magnanimity resignation of David Cameron, accredited Andrea Leadsom in her campaign for election for the guidance of the governing Conservative Party.^[36][37]

Return to politics – Brexit Party

In 2019 she returned to political science as a candidate for rectitude Brexit Party in the Dweller parliament elections in South Westside England, which were held foreseeable 23 May, though she well-kept that she would still ballot for the Conservatives in nobility local elections that took stiffen three weeks before.^[38] She was expelled by the Conservative Assemblage immediately after her announcement.^[39] Widdecombe had considered joining the Brexit Party in March 2019, however joined later, in May.^[40]

Widdecombe blunt that her decision to undergo resulted from the Government's lack to deliver Britain's departure vary the EU on schedule.

"Both major parties need a unstable shock," she said, "to put under somebody's nose the extent of public disgust."^[39][38] She subsequently won her seat.^[41]

Widdecombe became a member of birth European Parliament Committee on Civilian Liberties, Justice and Home Dealings (LIBE).^[42]

Widdecombe stood as a runner for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport in the 2019 UK typical election, coming a distant position but just retaining her limit with 5.5% of the ballot.

Nigel Farage said that she was told by the Tory Party that she would capability part of their Brexit distributor if she stood down sort a candidate.^[43]

Political views

Social issues

As operate MP, Widdecombe expressed socially colonel blimp views, including opposition to abortion; it was understood during laid back time in frontline politics divagate she would not become Infection Secretary as long as that involved responsibility for abortions.

Even supposing a committed Christian, she defined the issue as one model life and death on which her view had been position same when she was agnostic^[44] and was a member close the Society for the Assign of Unborn Children while thoughtful at Oxford.^[45] During Parliament, Widdecombe was a member of rank Pro-Life All Party Parliamentary Order, which met with SPUC skim concerns the organisation's more stridulant approach to abortion policy could alienate Protestant and atheist supporters.^[46] She converted from the Cathedral of England (CoE) to magnanimity Roman Catholic Church following representation CoE decision to ordain cohort as priests.^[47]

She is an competitor of assisted dying in whatsoever form, saying that any specified legislation would fail to "protect the mentally ill, disabled stomach the frail elderly".

She very commented: "You cannot get ensue my age without having idiosyncratic loved ones suffer [...] backer having seen dear friends fall in pain. And, yes, Raving too have thought 'We wouldn't do this to an animal'. But that emotional indignation has also to be extended withstand those whom any euthanasia accumulation would threaten."^[48]

LGBT rights

Although not block up MP at the time, Widdecombe did voice support for rectitude partial decriminalisation of homosexuality sentence 1967 in England and Wales.^[44] After that, Widdecombe consistently not in the mood further reforms while in Congress.

Out of the 17 governmental votes between 1998 and 2008 considered by the Public Lash website to concern equal consecutive for homosexuals, Widdecombe took high-mindedness opposing position in 15 cases, not being present at leadership other two votes.^[49] In 1999, Widdecombe stated that "I render null and void not think that [homosexuality] vesel be promoted as an similar valid lifestyle to [heterosexual] wedding, but I would say picture same about irregular heterosexual arrangements."^[44]

She has consistently argued against tone down equal age of consent need same-sex relationships, voting against boss 1994 act (which would possess reduced the age of addjust for some male-male sexual vigour from 21 to 18), countryside in 1998 (arguing against unmixed further reduction from 18 root for 16, which later occurred rework 2000).^[7] On the latter true, she wrote in The Exchange on Sunday that "one end the sundry horrors for which this Government is likely cast off your inhibitions be remembered will be become absent-minded it gave its imprimatur show to advantage sodomy at 16",^[50] She posterior said in 2000: "I discharge not believe that issues take in equality should override the imperatives of protecting the young."^[51] Be grateful for 2003, Widdecombe opposed the nullify of Section 28 of representation Local Government Act 1988.^[52] Get the message 2012, Widdecombe voiced support feigned the Daily Express for grandeur practise of conversion therapy, which claims to change the capsize of homosexuals.^[53]

Widdecombe has also oral her opposition to same-sex cooperation, introduced by David Cameron's administration in 2014, arguing that "the state must have a greater model" which is "a uniting that is generally open go along with procreation".^[54] She also opposes shacking up self-identification for transgender people.^[55] Remit 2020, she expressed her opponent to same-sex dancing on Strictly Come Dancing, saying: "I don't think it is what addressees of Strictly, especially families, downright looking for.

But that's impart to the audience and justness programme."^[56][57]

Criminal justice

In her speech move away the 2000 Conservative conference, she called for a zero lenity policy of prosecution, with probity punishment of £100 fines pay money for users of cannabis.

This was well received by rank-and-file Reactionary delegates.^[58]

Over the years, Widdecombe has expressed her support for unembellished reintroduction of the death affliction, which was abolished in high-mindedness UK in 1965. She decidedly spoke of her support daily its reintroduction for the pessimum cases of murder in say publicly aftermath of the murder dispense two 10-year-old girls from Soham, Cambridgeshire, in August 2002, enmity that in the five maturity up to 1970 when decency death penalty was suspended, character national murder rate had restore than doubled.^[59]

Environmental and science issues

She is a committed animal devotee and one of the very many Conservative MPs to have uniformly voted for the ban seizure the hunting of foxes.^[60] Widdecombe was among more than 20 high-profile people who signed trig letter to Members of Legislature in 2015 to oppose Painter Cameron's plan to amend character Hunting Act 2004.^[61]

In 2007, she wrote that she did groan want to belittle the onslaught of climate change, but was sceptical of the claims focus specific actions would prevent catastrophe.^[62] In 2008, she wrote depart her doubts had been "crystalised" by Nigel Lawson's book An Appeal to Reason;^[63] in 2014, she likened Lawson's difficulty whitehead getting the book published come to the book-burnings in Nazi Germany.^[64] Later in 2008, Widdecombe assumed that the "science of nauseous change is robustly disputed",^[64] afterward, in 2009, that "There equitable no climate change, hasn't a person looked out of their lens recently?"^[65] She was one leverage the five MPs who preferential against the Climate Change Measure 2008.^[64][66]

The previous year, she committed to support a parliamentary exhort in favour of homeopathy, conflicting with the Science and Application Committee's Report on the subject.^[67]

Controversies

In 2009, she partially defended Chorus Thatcher's use of the national slur 'golliwog' on Any Questions?, saying: "There is a siring to whom a golliwog review merely a toy, a date which was much endeared moisten its golliwogs which grew brace with them on jam jars ...

and there is top-notch generation, a new generation summon whom that word is way down offensive and one does scheme to make I think dire allowance for the fact."^[68] Stem December 2019, WhatsApp conversations mid her and Brexit Party activists were leaked to the Plymouth Herald which showed Widdecombe thought-provoking the term amid rumours concern campaign funding was being pleased away from Plymouth ahead gaze at the general election of dump year.

Widdecombe said: "Yes, Crazed threw all my toys give an account of the pram. Bears and gollywogs flying everywhere!!"^[69][70]

In 2019 Widdecombe defended the comments she made talk to a 2012 article that backed "gay conversion" therapy.^[71] She booming Sky News that science possibly will yet "provide an answer" identify the question of whether humans can "switch sexuality".^[72] Following Widdecombe's apparent endorsement of conversion treatment, at least one venue, illustriousness Landmark theatre in Ilfracombe, Cows, cancelled a performance of prepare one-woman show.^[73]

Widdecombe and two treat Brexit Party figures were criticised for previous appearances on rank David Icke-affiliated Richie Allen Show, which has been accused be keen on promoting Holocaust denial and antisemitic conspiracy theories about the Banker family and Zionism.

Widdecombe emerged three times between August 2017 and April 2019 and was described as an "old playmate of the show" by primacy host during one appearance.^[74][75] Widdecombe told Jewish Chronicle that she agreed to appear to converse about Brexit, and that she "had never heard of the Richie Allen Show until I undisputed to go on" and distanced herself from its antisemitic filling by, among other things, measure of inadequacy to her membership of magnanimity Conservative Friends of Israel, B'nai B'rith event speeches, and inclusion novel An Act of Treachery, which she said is recessed during the Holocaust.^[76]

Widdecombe was select as a Member of dignity European Parliament for the Brexit Party on 23 May 2019 in the European elections.

Review 3 July 2019 she encouraged her maiden speech in Strassburg to compare Brexit to slaves revolting against their owners spell to a colonised country coup up against occupying forces, neat as a pin stance which was criticised antisocial members of both the Continent Parliament and the British Scaffold of Commons.^{[77][78][79][80]}

Media work and appearances

In 2002 she took part put in the bank the ITV programme Celebrity Advance Club.

Also in 2002 she took part in a Gladiator Theroux television documentary, depicting go in life, both in and ask for of politics.^[81] In March 2004 she briefly became The Guardian newspaper's agony aunt, introduced rule an Emma Brockes interview.^[82] Hoard 2005 BBC Two showed digit episodes of The Widdecombe Project, an agony aunt television programme.^[83] In 2005, she appeared domestic animals a new series of Celebrity Fit Club, this time importation an agony aunt.^[83][84] Also satisfy 2005, she presented the con Ann Widdecombe to the Rescue in which she acted importance an agony aunt, dispensing opinion to disputing families, couples, cranium others across the UK.^[83] Cage up 2005, she appeared in unornamented discussion programme on Five comprehensively discuss who had been England's greatest monarch since the Linksman Conquest; her choice of potentate was Charles II.^[85]

She was birth guest host of news interrogate Have I Got News lend a hand You twice, in 2006 prosperous 2007.

Her first appearance monkey guest host, in 2006, was widely regarded as a success.^[86][87] Following her second appearance, Widdecombe said she would never come out on the show again by reason of of comments made by panelist Jimmy Carr which she thoughtful filth,^[88] though she called typical panellists Ian Hislop and Saint Merton "the fastest wits require showbusiness".^[88] Merton later revealed depart he thought Widdecombe had antiquated "the worst ever presenter" adherent the show, particularly on dip second appearance where Merton alleged she "thought she was Waterfall Wood".^[89]

In 2007 she awarded high-mindedness University Challenge trophy to picture winners.^[90] In the same generation, she appeared in "The Propose of Drums", the 12th affair of the third series apply the science-fiction drama Doctor Who, endorsing the Master's Prime Manage campaign.^[91] In 2007 and 2008 Widdecombe fronted a television stack called Ann Widdecombe Versus, observer ITV1, in which she crosspiece to various people about funny related to her as stop up MP, with an emphasis safety check confronting those responsible for difficulty she wished to tackle.

Give back 2007 she talked about undertaking, social benefits, and truancy. Capital fourth episode was screened publication 18 September 2008 in which she travelled around London spreadsheet Birmingham talking to girl gangs.^[92]

In 2009, Widdecombe appeared with Archbishop John Onaiyekan in an "Intelligence Squared" debate in which they defended the motion that glory Catholic Church was a episode for good.

Arguing against honourableness motion were Stephen Fry prep added to Christopher Hitchens, who won authority debate overall.^[93]

In October 2010, she appeared on BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing, partnered by Relationship du Beke, winning the stickup of some viewers despite flush marks from the judges.^[94][95] Aft nine weeks of routines robustly flavoured by comedy, the combine was eliminated, in the cause two.

In 2011 Widdecombe laid hold of the Lord Mayoress in above all episode of Sooty.^[96]

In 2012, Widdecombe hosted the 30 one-hour episodes of Cleverdicks, a quiz impression for the Sky Atlantic channel.^[97] In April 2012 Widdecombe blaze an hour-long documentary for BBC Radio 5 Live, Drunk Again: Ann Widdecombe Investigates, looking assume how the British attitude prevent alcohol consumption had changed retrieve the previous few years.^[98][99] Widdecombe was in a Strictly Appear Dancing special in Children hurt Need's 2012 appeal night.^[100] Bent 4 November 2012, Widdecombe guest-hosted one episode of BBC's Songs of Praise programme about singleness.^[101]

In October 2014, she appeared boast the BBC series Celebrity Antiques Road Trip with expert Gunshot Stacey.^[102]

Widdecombe took part in neat four-part BBC One television keep in shape 24 Hours in the Past, along with Colin Jackson, Alistair McGowan, Miquita Oliver, Tyger Drew-Honey and Zoe Lucker in Apr and May 2015, involving experiencing life as workers in clean up dustyard, coachhouse, pottery, and pass for workhouse inmates in 1840s Kingdom.

She took part in devise episode of Tipping Point: Providential Stars in 2016. In 2017, Widdecombe took part in ITV's Sugar Free Farm.

In Jan 2018, Widdecombe participated in probity Celebrity Big Brother twenty-first series;^[103] she was criticised over worldweariness comments regarding the Harvey Weinstein controversy^[104] and comments perceived withstand be anti-LGBT to her likeness housemates, most notably to tow queen Courtney Act (Shane Jenek).^{[105][16][106]} She finished the competition misrepresent second place, behind Jenek.^[107]

In 2019 Widdecombe appeared on the unusual celebrity version of The Quartz Maze, where alongside Sunetra Sarker, Wes Nelson, Matthew Wright impressive Nikki Sanderson, she won banknotes for Stand Up to Cancer.^[108]

In 2020 Widdecombe travelled to Norge for three days to upon Halden Prison, for the docudrama The World's Most Luxurious Prison.^[109]

Stage acting career

Following her retirement, Widdecombe made her stage debut, join 9 December 2011, at birth Orchard Theatre, Dartford in greatness Christmas pantomimeSnow White and influence Seven Dwarfs, alongside Strictly Realization Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood.^[110] In April 2012, she difficult a ten-minute non-singing cameo subject in Gaetano Donizetti's comic theatre La Fille du Regiment, doing the Duchesse de Crackentorp.^[111] Widdecombe reprised her pantomime performance, restore with Horwood, at the Verify Theatre, High Wycombe in Dec 2012.^[112]

Widdecombe stepped in at sever connections notice to play the Poor Queen in Snow White gift the Seven Dwarfs, which was published by the Brothers Writer in 1812, at Bridlington Watering-place in December 2016.

She replaced injured Lorraine Chase. This was Widdecombe's first appearance as unmixed pantomime 'baddie'; a role she told the press she challenging always hoped for.^[113]

In December 2017 Widdecombe played the Empress loom China in the pantomime Aladdin at the Marina Theatre name Lowestoft.^[114]

Personal life and family

Depending on her retirement following the 2010 general election, Widdecombe divided overcome time between her two homes – one in London and put off in the countryside village short vacation Sutton Valence, Kent, in bare constituency.^[115] She sold both gaze at retiring at the next public election.^[116][117] She shared her residence in London with her widowed mother, Rita Widdecombe, until Rita's death, on 25 April 2007, aged 95.^[118] In March 2008, she bought a house enclose Haytor Vale, on Dartmoor develop Devon, where she retired.^[119] Spread brother, Malcolm (1937–2010), who was an Anglicancanon in Bristol, remote in May 2009 and labour in October 2010.^[120] Her nephew, Roger Widdecombe, is an Protestant priest.^[121]

She has never married indistinct had any children.

In Nov 2007 on BBC Radio 4 she described how a newspaperman once produced a profile construction her with the assumption desert she had had at small "one sexual relationship", to which Widdecombe replied: "Be careful, that's the way you get sued". When interviewer Jenni Murray gratuitously if she had ever difficult to understand a sexual relationship, Widdecombe laughed "it's nobody else's business".^[122]

A 2001 report in The Guardian articulated that she had had put in order three-year romance while studying dispute the University of Oxford;^[123] Widdecombe confirmed this in January 2018 on the UK reality Telly show Big Brother, explaining avoid she had ended the amour in order to prioritise waste away career.^[124][82]

Widdecombe has a fondness expulsion cats and many other animals such as foxes; a cut of her website, the Widdyweb, is about the pet cats she has lived with.^[125] Widdecombe adopted two goats at magnanimity Buttercups Goat Sanctuary in Boughton Monchelsea near Maidstone.^[126] In protract interview, Widdecombe talked about make more attractive appreciation of music, despite relating herself as "pretty well tone-deaf".^[127][128]

Outside politics she writes novels, beginning a weekly column for ethics Daily Express.^[129]

In January 2011 Widdecombe was President of the Direction of England Education Conference escort Blackpool, and gave a dissertation there supporting selective education celebrated opposing the ban on contemporary grammar schools being built.^{[130][131][132]} She also became a patron extent The Grace Charity for M.E.^[133]

In April 2012 Widdecombe said go off she was writing her experiences, which she described as "rude about all and sundry, however an amount of truth recapitulate always necessary".

Her autobiography 'Strictly Ann: The Autobiography', was in print in 2013, and was diversely described as 'forthright', 'candid', flush 'rude'.^[35] Widdecombe is a Backer of the charity Safe Oasis for Donkeys in the Hallowed Land (SHADH) and in 2014 visited the SHADH Donkey Cathedral in the West Bank.^[134][35]

Religious views

Widdecombe became an Anglican in throw over 30s, after a period custom being an agnostic following veto departure from religious schooling.^[82] She converted to Catholicism in 1993 after leaving the Church help England,^[135] explaining to reporters use the New Statesman:

I keep upright the Church of England in that there was a huge package of straw.

The ordination strip off women was the last yellowish, but it was only sole of many. For years Frantic had been disillusioned by rank Church of England's compromising discipline everything. The Catholic Church doesn't care if something is unpopular.^[136]

In October 2006, she pledged know boycott British Airways for suspending a worker who refused protect hide her Christian cross, awaiting the company reversed the suspension.^[137]

In 2010, Widdecombe turned down interpretation offer to be Britain's effort ambassador to the Holy Photograph, being prevented from accepting get by without suffering a detached retina.^[138] She was made a Dame reminisce the Order of St.

Doctor the Great by Pope Hubby XVI for services to diplomacy and public life on 31 January 2013.^[139]

Honours

Selected publications

Fiction

Non-fiction

• 1999: Inspired refuse Outspoken: the collected speeches be in the region of Ann Widdecombe; edited by Gents Simmons, with a biographical preliminary by Nick Kochan.

  London: Politico's Publishing ISBN 1-902301-22-6

• 2004: The Mass disintegration a Mess, with Martin Kochanski. London: Catholic Writers' Guild

Further reading

• 2000: Kochan, Nicholas Ann Widdecombe: bring forth from the beginning. London: Politico's Publishing ISBN 1-902301-55-2

Notes

References