Ann widdecombe autobiography

British politician and media identity (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, Bankroll, 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) assignment a British politician and thronging personality who has been Modify UK's Immigration and Justice vehicle since 2023.^[2] Originally a contributor of the Conservative Party, she was Member of Parliament (MP) for Maidstone and The Weald, and the former Maidstone condition, from 1987 to 2010.

She was a member of probity Brexit Party from 2019 it was renamed Reform UK in 2021, and served orang-utan Member of the European Congress (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 Habit of Birmingham and later pompous philosophy, politics and economics send up Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford.

She is a religious convert detach from Anglicanism to Roman Catholicism, current was a member of grandeur Conservative Christian Fellowship. She served as Minister of State stand for Employment from 1994 to 1995 and Minister of State care for Prisons from 1995 to 1997. She later served in representation Shadow Cabinet of William Hague as Shadow Secretary of Renovate for Health from 1998 respect 1999 and Shadow Home Dramatist from 1999 to 2001.

She was appointed to the Private Council in 1997.

Widdecombe homely down from the House work Commons at the 2010 public election. Since 2002, she has made numerous television and cable appearances, including as a hold close presenter. A prominent Eurosceptic, admire 2016 she supported the Opt Leave campaign to withdraw distinction United Kingdom from the Indweller Union (EU).

Widdecombe returned quality politics as the lead applicant for the Brexit Party cloudless South West England at authority 2019 European Parliament election, delightful the seat in line farm results nationally, serving until interpretation country left the EU kick 31 January 2020. In grandeur general election of December 2019 – as with all perturb candidates for the Commons fielded by the Brexit Party – she did not win greatness seat she contested (Plymouth Sutton and Devonport), but retained bond deposit and came third.

Ideologically, Widdecombe identifies herself as shipshape and bristol fashion social conservative and stresses greatness importance of traditional values cranium conservatism. As a member liberation the House of Commons, she opposed the legality of close, opposed granting LGBT people permissible rights such as the selfsame age of consent as heterosexuals, and opposed the repeal bring into the light Section 28.

She supported presentation of the death penalty kindle murder, though more narrowly realistic than previously. She is anti to all forms of aided dying. She has a account of supporting rigorous laws look sharp animal protection and opposition unearth fox hunting.

Early life

Ann Noreen Widdecombe was born in Wash, Somerset, the daughter of Rita Noreen (née Plummer; 1911–2007) significant Ministry of Defence civil upstairs maid James Murray Widdecombe.

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

She attended the Royal Oceanic School in Singapore,^[4] and Nip Sainte Union Convent School infiltrate Bath.^[5] She then read Standard at the University of Brummagem and later attended Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, to read idea, politics and economics.^[6] In 1971, she was the secretary virtuous the Oxford Union for get someone on the blower term, and became its teller for one term in 1972.^[7]

While studying at Oxford, she ephemeral next door to Mary Toxophilite, Edwina Currie, and Gyles Brandreth's wife Michèle Brown.^[8] She mannered for Unilever (1973–75) and substantiate as an administrator at influence University of London (1975–87) already entering Parliament.^[5]

Political career

In 1974, Widdecombe was personal assistant to Archangel Ancram in the February enjoin October general elections of become absent-minded year.^[7] From 1976 to 1978, Widdecombe was a councillor immature person Runnymede District Council in Surrey.^[9]

She contested the seat of Burnley in Lancashire in the 1979 general election and then, bite the bullet David Owen, the Plymouth Devonport seat in the 1983 public election.^[10][11] In 1983 she, comicalness Lady Olga Maitland and Town 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 position House of Commons, for blue blood the gentry Conservatives, in the 1987 public election as member for rank constituency of Maidstone (which became Maidstone and The Weald be glad about 1997).^[13]

In government

Widdecombe joined Prime Clergywoman John Major's government as Formal Under-Secretary of State for Popular Security in 1990.

In 1993, she was moved to excellence Department of Employment, and she was promoted to Minister ransack State the following year. Walk heavily 1995, she joined the Make Office as Minister of Accuse for Prisons and visited all prison in the UK.^[14]

In 1996, Widdecombe, as prisons minister, defended the Government's policy to restraint pregnant prisoners with handcuffs add-on chains when in hospital response prenatal care.

Widdecombe told probity Commons that the restrictions were needed to prevent prisoners implant escaping the hospital. "Some System may like to think go off a pregnant woman would categorize or could not escape. Deplorably this is not true. Grandeur fact is that hospitals be conscious of not secure places in which to keep prisoners, and on account of 1990, 20 women have free from hospitals".

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

Shadow Cabinet

In May 1997, coop up the context of an examination into a series of lock up escapes, Widdecombe remarked of find Home Secretary Michael Howard, erior to whom she had served, prowl there is "something of righteousness night" about him.^[17] This much-quoted comment is thought to fake contributed to the failure show Howard's 1997 campaign for birth Conservative Party leadership, a attitude shared by both Howard child and Widdecombe.

It led succeed him being caricatured as copperplate vampire, in part due feign his Romanian ancestry.^[18][19][20] Howard became the official party leader demonstrate 2003, and Widdecombe then confirmed, "I explained fully what tonguetied objections were in 1997 ground I do not retract anything I said then.

But ... we have to look make the future and not say publicly past."^[21]

After the Conservative landslide yell at the 1997 general preference, she served as Shadow Profit Secretary between 1998 and 1999 and later as Shadow Impress Secretary from 1999 to 2001 under the leadership of William Hague.^[22]

Leadership contest and backbenches

During rank 2001 Conservative leadership election, she could not find sufficient regulars amongst Conservative MPs for other half leadership candidacy.

She first verified Michael Ancram, who was disqualified in the first round, leading then Kenneth Clarke, who gone in the final round. She afterwards declined to serve footpath Iain Duncan Smith's Shadow Chifferobe (although she indicated on position television programme When Louis Met..., prior to the leadership tournament, that she wished to away to the backbenches anyway).

In 2001, when Michael Portillo was running for leader of prestige 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, be compelled he be appointed leader, she would never give him complex allegiance.^[23] This was amidst swell homophobic campaign led by socially conservative critics of Portillo.^[24]

In magnanimity 2005 leadership election, she first supported Kenneth Clarke again.

Long ago he was eliminated, she nauseating support towards Liam Fox. Multitude Fox's subsequent elimination, she took time to reflect before in the end declaring for David Davis. She expressed reservations over the conclusive winner David Cameron, feeling lose concentration he did not, like high-mindedness other candidates, have a established track record, and she was later a leading figure welloff parliamentary opposition to his A-List policy.^[25] At the October 2006 Conservative Conference, she was Primary Dragon in a political history of the television programme Dragons' Den, in which A-list competition were invited to put set in motion a policy proposal, which was then torn apart by torment team of Rachel Elnaugh, Jazzman Letwin and Michael Brown.^[26]

In drawing interview with Metro in Sept 2006 she stated that theorize Parliament were of a ordinary length, it was likely she would retire at the adhere to general election.^[27] She confirmed in return intention to stand down interrupt The Observer's Pendennis diary put in September 2007,^[28] and again cage October 2007 after Prime Parson Gordon Brown quashed speculation gaze at an autumn 2007 general election.^[23]

In November 2006, she moved collide with the house of an Islington Labour Councillor to experience strength of mind on a council estate, restlessness response to her experience flesh out "Five years ago I plain a speech in the The boards of Commons about the accomplished decents.

I have spent prestige last week on estates confine the Islington area finding ludicrous that they are still forgotten."^[29]

In 2007 Widdecombe was one be fooled by the 98 MPs who ideal 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 authority House of Commons, it was reported that Widdecombe was convention support for election as interval Speaker until the next accepted election.^[32] On 11 June 2009, she confirmed her bid predict be the Speaker,^[33] but came last in the second plebiscite and was eliminated.^[34]

Widdecombe retired hit upon politics at the 2010 common election.

It was rumoured ramble she would be a Counter-revolutionary candidate for Police and Misdeed Commissioner in 2012, but she refused. She since spoke development her opposition to the Federation Government and her surprise look not being given a nobility by David Cameron.^[35]

In 2016, she supported Brexit during the 2016 EU referendum and, following ethics resignation of David Cameron, ex cathedra Andrea Leadsom in her movement for election for the management of the governing Conservative Party.^[36][37]

Return to politics – Brexit Party

In 2019 she returned to statecraft as a candidate for excellence Brexit Party in the Dweller parliament elections in South Westbound England, which were held proceed 23 May, though she unfair that she would still poll for the Conservatives in birth local elections that took souk three weeks before.^[38] She was expelled by the Conservative Aggregation immediately after her announcement.^[39] Widdecombe had considered joining the Brexit Party in March 2019, on the other hand joined later, in May.^[40]

Widdecombe thought that her decision to say yes resulted from the Government's thump to deliver Britain's departure deprive the EU on schedule.

"Both major parties need a seismal shock," she said, "to cloak the extent of public disgust."^[39][38] She subsequently won her seat.^[41]

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

Widdecombe stood as a applicant for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport in the 2019 UK common election, coming a distant bag but just retaining her put with 5.5% of the suffrage.

Nigel Farage said that she was told by the Reactionary Party that she would emerging part of their Brexit affairs if she stood down hoot a candidate.^[43]

Political views

Social issues

As distinctive MP, Widdecombe expressed socially stretch views, including opposition to abortion; it was understood during renounce time in frontline politics lose one\'s train of thought she would not become Fitness Secretary as long as that involved responsibility for abortions.

Notwithstanding a committed Christian, she defined the issue as one model life and death on which her view had been goodness same when she was agnostic^[44] and was a member curst the Society for the Patronage of Unborn Children while turned off at Oxford.^[45] During Parliament, Widdecombe was a member of leadership Pro-Life All Party Parliamentary Travel, which met with SPUC go out with concerns the organisation's more jangling approach to abortion policy could alienate Protestant and atheist supporters.^[46] She converted from the Service of England (CoE) to birth Roman Catholic Church following illustriousness CoE decision to ordain battalion as priests.^[47]

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

She additional commented: "You cannot get blow up my age without having curious loved ones suffer [...] recollect having seen dear friends succumb in pain. And, yes, Distracted too have thought 'We wouldn't do this to an animal'. But that emotional indignation has also to be extended come to those whom any euthanasia collection would threaten."^[48]

LGBT rights

Although not unembellished MP at the time, Widdecombe did voice support for justness partial decriminalisation of homosexuality redraft 1967 in England and Wales.^[44] After that, Widdecombe consistently laggard further reforms while in Convocation.

Out of the 17 lawmaking votes between 1998 and 2008 considered by the Public Fly website to concern equal aboveboard for homosexuals, Widdecombe took blue blood the gentry opposing position in 15 cases, not being present at distinction other two votes.^[49] In 1999, Widdecombe stated that "I untie not think that [homosexuality] stem be promoted as an akin valid lifestyle to [heterosexual] wedding, but I would say goodness same about irregular heterosexual arrangements."^[44]

She has consistently argued against stop off equal age of consent school same-sex relationships, voting against uncluttered 1994 act (which would accept reduced the age of give a positive response for some male-male sexual vitality from 21 to 18), current in 1998 (arguing against fastidious further reduction from 18 run into 16, which later occurred fall to pieces 2000).^[7] On the latter sway, she wrote in The Send on Sunday that "one replicate the sundry horrors for which this Government is likely prove be remembered will be go it gave its imprimatur picture sodomy at 16",^[50] She late said in 2000: "I excel not believe that issues subtract equality should override the imperatives of protecting the young."^[51] Subordinate 2003, Widdecombe opposed the cancel of Section 28 of rank Local Government Act 1988.^[52] Join 2012, Widdecombe voiced support deceive the Daily Express for honesty practise of conversion therapy, which claims to change the coordination of homosexuals.^[53]

Widdecombe has also phonetic her opposition to same-sex matrimony, introduced by David Cameron's management in 2014, arguing that "the state must have a greater model" which is "a joining that is generally open currency procreation".^[54] She also opposes shagging self-identification for transgender people.^[55] Prosperous 2020, she expressed her opponent to same-sex dancing on Strictly Come Dancing, saying: "I don't think it is what meeting of Strictly, especially families, selling looking for.

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

Criminal justice

In her speech encounter the 2000 Conservative conference, she called for a zero broadmindedness policy of prosecution, with nobility punishment of £100 fines bring users of cannabis.

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

Over the years, Widdecombe has expressed her support for far-out reintroduction of the death discipline, which was abolished in honesty UK in 1965. She decidedly spoke of her support get to its reintroduction for the get the better of cases of murder in grandeur aftermath of the murder short vacation two 10-year-old girls from Soham, Cambridgeshire, in August 2002, contention that in the five majority up to 1970 when representation death penalty was suspended, representation national murder rate had go on than doubled.^[59]

Environmental and science issues

She is a committed animal concubine and one of the many Conservative MPs to have invariably voted for the ban stage the hunting of foxes.^[60] Widdecombe was among more than 20 high-profile people who signed cool letter to Members of Fantan in 2015 to oppose Painter Cameron's plan to amend influence Hunting Act 2004.^[61]

In 2007, she wrote that she did grizzle demand want to belittle the emanation of climate change, but was sceptical of the claims defer specific actions would prevent catastrophe.^[62] In 2008, she wrote give it some thought her doubts had been "crystalised" by Nigel Lawson's book An Appeal to Reason;^[63] in 2014, she likened Lawson's difficulty amusement getting the book published success the book-burnings in Nazi Germany.^[64] Later in 2008, Widdecombe supposed that the "science of off-colour change is robustly disputed",^[64] therefore, in 2009, that "There assessment no climate change, hasn't undivided looked out of their field-glasses recently?"^[65] She was one use up the five MPs who progressing against the Climate Change Give the impression of being 2008.^[64][66]

The previous year, she ideal to support a parliamentary hullabaloo in favour of homeopathy, separate with the Science and Profession Committee's Report on the subject.^[67]

Controversies

In 2009, she partially defended Canzonet Thatcher's use of the tribal slur 'golliwog' on Any Questions?, saying: "There is a procreation to whom a golliwog survey merely a toy, a interval which was much endeared hard its golliwogs which grew plan with them on jam jars ...

and there is unornamented generation, a new generation complete whom that word is heartily offensive and one does own to make I think harsh allowance for the fact."^[68] Attach December 2019, WhatsApp conversations halfway her and Brexit Party activists were leaked to the Plymouth Herald which showed Widdecombe function the term amid rumours establishment campaign funding was being entertained away from Plymouth ahead constantly the general election of dump year.

Widdecombe said: "Yes, Frantic threw all my toys panic about the pram. Bears and gollywogs flying everywhere!!"^[69][70]

In 2019 Widdecombe defended the comments she made sully a 2012 article that based "gay conversion" therapy.^[71] She booming Sky News that science haw yet "provide an answer" slant the question of whether fill can "switch sexuality".^[72] Following Widdecombe's apparent endorsement of conversion remedial treatment, at least one venue, nobleness Landmark theatre in Ilfracombe, County, cancelled a performance of lead one-woman show.^[73]

Widdecombe and two treat Brexit Party figures were criticised for previous appearances on prestige David Icke-affiliated Richie Allen Show, which has been accused give a miss promoting Holocaust denial and anti-semitic conspiracy theories about the Banker family and Zionism.

Widdecombe arised three times between August 2017 and April 2019 and was described as an "old keep a note of of the show" by description host during one appearance.^[74][75] Widdecombe told Jewish Chronicle that she agreed to appear to 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, wish to her membership of primacy Conservative Friends of Israel, B'nai B'rith event speeches, and give someone his novel An Act of Treachery, which she said is locate during the Holocaust.^[76]

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

Conundrum 3 July 2019 she old her maiden speech in Strassburg to compare Brexit to slaves revolting against their owners skull to a colonised country revolt up against occupying forces, unembellished stance which was criticised mass members of both the Continent Parliament and the British Council house of Commons.^{[77][78][79][80]}

Media work and appearances

In 2002 she took part crumble the ITV programme Celebrity Set up Club.

Also in 2002 she took part in a Gladiator Theroux television documentary, depicting disown life, both in and simple of politics.^[81] In March 2004 she briefly became The Guardian newspaper's agony aunt, introduced deal in an Emma Brockes interview.^[82] Derive 2005 BBC Two showed digit episodes of The Widdecombe Project, an agony aunt television programme.^[83] In 2005, she appeared make money on a new series of Celebrity Fit Club, this time bit an agony aunt.^[83][84] Also acquit yourself 2005, she presented the strut Ann Widdecombe to the Rescue in which she acted despite the fact that an agony aunt, dispensing aid to disputing families, couples, celebrated others across the UK.^[83] Story 2005, she appeared in splendid discussion programme on Five commerce discuss who had been England's greatest monarch since the Frenchman Conquest; her choice of king was Charles II.^[85]

She was loftiness guest host of news ask Have I Got News hope against hope You twice, in 2006 dispatch 2007.

Her first appearance orangutan guest host, in 2006, was widely regarded as a success.^[86][87] Following her second appearance, Widdecombe said she would never tower on the show again on account of of comments made by critic Jimmy Carr which she alleged filth,^[88] though she called popular panellists Ian Hislop and Disagreeable Merton "the fastest wits effect showbusiness".^[88] Merton later revealed walk he thought Widdecombe had back number "the worst ever presenter" near the show, particularly on prepare second appearance where Merton presumed she "thought she was Port Wood".^[89]

In 2007 she awarded probity University Challenge trophy to authority winners.^[90] In the same gathering, she appeared in "The Durable of Drums", the 12th experience of the third series have a high opinion of the science-fiction drama Doctor Who, endorsing the Master's Prime Clergyman campaign.^[91] In 2007 and 2008 Widdecombe fronted a television progression called Ann Widdecombe Versus, business ITV1, in which she strut to various people about nonconforming related to her as inspiration MP, with an emphasis curled confronting those responsible for put the screws on she wished to tackle.

Pointed 2007 she talked about dynasty, social benefits, and truancy. Uncomplicated fourth episode was screened fasten down 18 September 2008 in which she travelled around London person in charge 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 influence Catholic Church was a bumpily for good.

Arguing against justness motion were Stephen Fry fairy story Christopher Hitchens, who won birth debate overall.^[93]

In October 2010, she appeared on BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing, partnered by Fellowship du Beke, winning the posterior of some viewers despite bad marks from the judges.^[94][95] Subsequently nine weeks of routines forcefully flavoured by comedy, the amalgamate was eliminated, in the from head to foot two.

In 2011 Widdecombe afflicted the Lord Mayoress in image episode of Sooty.^[96]

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

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

Widdecombe took part in fine four-part BBC One television collection 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 spiffy tidy up dustyard, coachhouse, pottery, and introduction workhouse inmates in 1840s Kingdom.

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

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

In 2019 Widdecombe appeared on the in mint condition celebrity version of The Lechatelierite Maze, where alongside Sunetra Sarker, Wes Nelson, Matthew Wright explode Nikki Sanderson, she won impoverish for Stand Up to Cancer.^[108]

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

Stage acting career

Following her retirement, Widdecombe made her stage debut, leave town 9 December 2011, at rendering Orchard Theatre, Dartford in authority Christmas pantomimeSnow White and rectitude Seven Dwarfs, alongside Strictly Emerge Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood.^[110] In April 2012, she difficult to understand a ten-minute non-singing cameo divulge in Gaetano Donizetti's comic work La Fille du Regiment, exhibition the Duchesse de Crackentorp.^[111] Widdecombe reprised her pantomime performance, carry on with Horwood, at the Affirm Theatre, High Wycombe in Dec 2012.^[112]

Widdecombe stepped in at take your clothes off notice to play the Poor Queen in Snow White additional the Seven Dwarfs, which was published by the Brothers Linguist in 1812, at Bridlington Haunt in December 2016.

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

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

Personal life and family

Waiting for her retirement following the 2010 general election, Widdecombe divided pull together time between her two homes – one in London and assault in the countryside village slow Sutton Valence, Kent, in in sync constituency.^[115] She sold both function retiring at the next communal election.^[116][117] She shared her house 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 deceive Haytor Vale, on Dartmoor rework Devon, where she retired.^[119] Team up brother, Malcolm (1937–2010), who was an Anglicancanon in Bristol, stop working 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 correspondent once produced a profile sorted out her with the assumption cruise she had had at nadir "one sexual relationship", to which Widdecombe replied: "Be careful, that's the way you get sued". When interviewer Jenni Murray voluntarily if she had ever esoteric a sexual relationship, Widdecombe laughed "it's nobody else's business".^[122]

A 2001 report in The Guardian vocal that she had had clean up three-year romance while studying trite the University of Oxford;^[123] Widdecombe confirmed this in January 2018 on the UK reality Tube show Big Brother, explaining rove she had ended the love affair in order to prioritise worldweariness career.^[124][82]

Widdecombe has a fondness connote cats and many other animals such as foxes; a divide of her website, the Widdyweb, is about the pet cats she has lived with.^[125] Widdecombe adopted two goats at excellence Buttercups Goat Sanctuary in Boughton Monchelsea near Maidstone.^[126] In ending interview, Widdecombe talked about send someone away appreciation of music, despite relation herself as "pretty well tone-deaf".^[127][128]

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

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

In April 2012 Widdecombe said put off she was writing her journals, which she described as "rude about all and sundry, on the other hand an amount of truth bash always necessary".

Her autobiography 'Strictly Ann: The Autobiography', was obtainable in 2013, and was multifariously described as 'forthright', 'candid', flush 'rude'.^[35] Widdecombe is a Sponsor of the charity Safe Sanctum for Donkeys in the Incorporeal Land (SHADH) and in 2014 visited the SHADH Donkey Shrine in the West Bank.^[134][35]

Religious views

Widdecombe became an Anglican in any more 30s, after a period concede being an agnostic following become known departure from religious schooling.^[82] She converted to Catholicism in 1993 after leaving the Church be bought England,^[135] explaining to reporters deviate the New Statesman:

I formerly larboard the Church of England on account of there was a huge packet of straw.

The ordination be unable to find women was the last in one`s birthday suit, but it was only individual of many. For years Unrestrainable had been disillusioned by high-mindedness Church of England's compromising anomaly everything. The Catholic Church doesn't care if something is unpopular.^[136]

In October 2006, she pledged nip in the bud boycott British Airways for suspending a worker who refused join hide her Christian cross, during the company reversed the suspension.^[137]

In 2010, Widdecombe turned down rank offer to be Britain's ensue ambassador to the Holy Affection, being prevented from accepting encourage suffering a detached retina.^[138] She was made a Dame use your indicators the Order of St.

Saint the Great by Pope Anthropologist XVI for services to civics and public life on 31 January 2013.^[139]

Honours

Selected publications

Fiction

Non-fiction

• 1999: Inspired champion Outspoken: the collected speeches show consideration for Ann Widdecombe; edited by Can Simmons, with a biographical foreword by Nick Kochan.

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

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

Further reading

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

Notes

References