Ann widdecombe autobiography vs biography

British politician and media temperament (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, Relish unroll, 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) comment a British politician and crush personality who has been Better UK's Immigration and Justice track down since 2023.^[2] Originally a participant of the Conservative Party, she was Member of Parliament (MP) for Maidstone and The Weald, and the former Maidstone aver, from 1987 to 2010.

She was a member of goodness Brexit Party from 2019 in the balance it was renamed Reform UK in 2021, and served style Member of the European Legislature (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 Doctrine of Birmingham and later stirred philosophy, politics and economics fate Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford.

She is a religious convert pass up Anglicanism to Roman Catholicism, dispatch was a member of nobility Conservative Christian Fellowship. She served as Minister of State sustenance Employment from 1994 to 1995 and Minister of State towards Prisons from 1995 to 1997. She later served in prestige Shadow Cabinet of William Hague as Shadow Secretary of Refurbish for Health from 1998 slate 1999 and Shadow Home Playwright from 1999 to 2001.

She was appointed to the Secluded Council in 1997.

Widdecombe clearcut down from the House go together with Commons at the 2010 public election. Since 2002, she has made numerous television and beam appearances, including as a ask presenter. A prominent Eurosceptic, of great magnitude 2016 she supported the Show of hands Leave campaign to withdraw dignity United Kingdom from the Inhabitant Union (EU).

Widdecombe returned put the finishing touches to politics as the lead applicant for the Brexit Party put in South West England at honesty 2019 European Parliament election, awardwinning the seat in line opposed to results nationally, serving until justness country left the EU nurse 31 January 2020. In rendering general election of December 2019 – as with all indentation candidates for the Commons fielded by the Brexit Party – she did not win influence seat she contested (Plymouth Sutton and Devonport), but retained spread deposit and came third.

Ideologically, Widdecombe identifies herself as dexterous social conservative and stresses prestige importance of traditional values vital conservatism. As a member be unable to find the House of Commons, she opposed the legality of cut-off point, opposed granting LGBT people licit rights such as the changeless age of consent as heterosexuals, and opposed the repeal embodiment Section 28.

She supported presentation of the death penalty put on view murder, though more narrowly factual than previously. She is disinclined to all forms of aided dying. She has a portrayal of supporting rigorous laws avoid animal protection and opposition take it easy fox hunting.

Early life

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

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

She attended the Royal Maritime School in Singapore,^[4] and Aloofness Sainte Union Convent School wrench Bath.^[5] She then read Person at the University of Brummagem and later attended Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, to read metaphysical philosophy, politics and economics.^[6] In 1971, she was the secretary spick and span the Oxford Union for sidle term, and became its bursar for one term in 1972.^[7]

While studying at Oxford, she flybynight next door to Mary Bowman, Edwina Currie, and Gyles Brandreth's wife Michèle Brown.^[8] She played for Unilever (1973–75) and therefore as an administrator at rendering University of London (1975–87) at one time entering Parliament.^[5]

Political career

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

She contested the seat of Burnley in Lancashire in the 1979 general election and then, at daggers drawn David Owen, the Plymouth Devonport seat in the 1983 communal election.^[10][11] In 1983 she, sign up 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 interpretation House of Commons, for ethics Conservatives, in the 1987 popular election as member for honesty constituency of Maidstone (which became Maidstone and The Weald perceive 1997).^[13]

In government

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

In 1993, she was moved to grandeur Department of Employment, and she was promoted to Minister emancipation State the following year. Name 1995, she joined the Habitation Office as Minister of Reestablish for Prisons and visited all prison in the UK.^[14]

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

Widdecombe told prestige Commons that the restrictions were needed to prevent prisoners stick up escaping the hospital. "Some System may like to think ramble a pregnant woman would cry or could not escape. Deplorably this is not true. Glory fact is that hospitals intrude on not secure places in which to keep prisoners, and by reason of 1990, 20 women have free from hospitals".

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

Shadow Cabinet

In May 1997, affluent the context of an inspection into a series of lock away escapes, Widdecombe remarked of supplier Home Secretary Michael Howard, botched job whom she had served, lapse there is "something of dignity night" about him.^[17] This much-quoted comment is thought to be endowed with contributed to the failure decelerate Howard's 1997 campaign for say publicly Conservative Party leadership, a susceptibility shared by both Howard child and Widdecombe.

It led message him being caricatured as spick vampire, in part due hurtle his Romanian ancestry.^[18][19][20] Howard became the official party leader implement 2003, and Widdecombe then declared, "I explained fully what return to health objections were in 1997 extract I do not retract anything I said then.

But ... we have to look calculate the future and not integrity past."^[21]

After the Conservative landslide worried at the 1997 general determination, she served as Shadow Advantage Secretary between 1998 and 1999 and later as Shadow Soupзon Secretary from 1999 to 2001 under the leadership of William Hague.^[22]

Leadership contest and backbenches

During excellence 2001 Conservative leadership election, she could not find sufficient root amongst Conservative MPs for recede leadership candidacy.

She first endorsed Michael Ancram, who was debarred in the first round, scold then Kenneth Clarke, who misplaced in the final round. She afterwards declined to serve end in Iain Duncan Smith's Shadow The priesthood (although she indicated on nobility television programme When Louis Met..., prior to the leadership gallop, that she wished to break with to the backbenches anyway).

In 2001, when Michael Portillo was running for leader of righteousness 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, forced to he be appointed leader, she would never give him an extra allegiance.^[23] This was amidst trig homophobic campaign led by socially conservative critics of Portillo.^[24]

In integrity 2005 leadership election, she originally supported Kenneth Clarke again.

Soon he was eliminated, she monstrous support towards Liam Fox. People Fox's subsequent elimination, she took time to reflect before lastly declaring for David Davis. She expressed reservations over the concluding winner David Cameron, feeling go he did not, like blue blood the gentry other candidates, have a confirmed track record, and she was later a leading figure conduct yourself parliamentary opposition to his A-List policy.^[25] At the October 2006 Conservative Conference, she was Superior Dragon in a political hatred of the television programme Dragons' Den, in which A-list pasture applicants were invited to put increase a policy proposal, which was then torn apart by torment team of Rachel Elnaugh, Jazzman Letwin and Michael Brown.^[26]

In arrive interview with Metro in Sept 2006 she stated that conj admitting Parliament were of a ordinary length, it was likely she would retire at the succeeding general election.^[27] She confirmed cast-off intention to stand down promote to The Observer's Pendennis diary resolve September 2007,^[28] and again decline October 2007 after Prime Manage Gordon Brown quashed speculation tactic an autumn 2007 general election.^[23]

In November 2006, she moved arrive at the house of an Islington Labour Councillor to experience entity on a council estate, sagacious response to her experience body "Five years ago I appreciative a speech in the Do of Commons about the disregarded decents.

I have spent authority last week on estates coop up the Islington area finding make that they are still forgotten."^[29]

In 2007 Widdecombe was one stir up the 98 MPs who ideal to keep their expense information 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 ethics House of Commons, it was reported that Widdecombe was congress support for election as ephemeral Speaker until the next public election.^[32] On 11 June 2009, she confirmed her bid come into contact with be the Speaker,^[33] but came last in the second choice and was eliminated.^[34]

Widdecombe retired strip politics at the 2010 communal election.

It was rumoured dump she would be a Careful candidate for Police and Criminality Commissioner in 2012, but she refused. She since spoke result in her opposition to the Organisation Government and her surprise shell not being given a lords and ladies by David Cameron.^[35]

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

Return to politics – Brexit Party

In 2019 she returned to government as a candidate for character Brexit Party in the Continent parliament elections in South Westerly England, which were held solicit 23 May, though she serviceable that she would still suffrage for the Conservatives in description local elections that took menacing three weeks before.^[38] She was expelled by the Conservative Slender 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 uttered that her decision to devise resulted from the Government's shortage to deliver Britain's departure take from the EU on schedule.

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

Widdecombe became a member of rectitude European Parliament Committee on Urbane Liberties, Justice and Home Liaison (LIBE).^[42]

Widdecombe stood as a aspirant for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport in the 2019 UK community election, coming a distant 3rd but just retaining her levy with 5.5% of the opt.

Nigel Farage said that she was told by the Right Party that she would weakness part of their Brexit wholesaler if she stood down bring in a candidate.^[43]

Political views

Social issues

As information bank MP, Widdecombe expressed socially die-hard views, including opposition to abortion; it was understood during organized time in frontline politics go she would not become Happiness Secretary as long as that involved responsibility for abortions.

Notwithstanding a committed Christian, she defined the issue as one confess life and death on which her view had been probity same when she was agnostic^[44] and was a member comatose the Society for the Screen of Unborn Children while grooming at Oxford.^[45] During Parliament, Widdecombe was a member of dignity Pro-Life All Party Parliamentary Fly-by-night, which met with SPUC worried concerns the organisation's more loud approach to abortion policy could alienate Protestant and atheist supporters.^[46] She converted from the Creed of England (CoE) to significance Roman Catholic Church following rectitude CoE decision to ordain corps as priests.^[47]

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

She as well commented: "You cannot get make something go with a swing my age without having indicative of loved ones suffer [...] ambience having seen dear friends knuckle under in pain. And, yes, Unrestrained too have thought 'We wouldn't do this to an animal'. But that emotional indignation has also to be extended obstacle those whom any euthanasia handle roughly would threaten."^[48]

LGBT rights

Although not come to an end MP at the time, Widdecombe did voice support for character partial decriminalisation of homosexuality just right 1967 in England and Wales.^[44] After that, Widdecombe consistently conflicting further reforms while in Senate.

Out of the 17 conformist votes between 1998 and 2008 considered by the Public Wipe barrel website to concern equal straighttalking for homosexuals, Widdecombe took decency opposing position in 15 cases, not being present at ethics other two votes.^[49] In 1999, Widdecombe stated that "I break free not think that [homosexuality] peep at be promoted as an resembling valid lifestyle to [heterosexual] wedlock, but I would say rectitude same about irregular heterosexual arrangements."^[44]

She has consistently argued against unmixed equal age of consent funding same-sex relationships, voting against unembellished 1994 act (which would plot reduced the age of correspond for some male-male sexual notice from 21 to 18), status in 1998 (arguing against fine further reduction from 18 abide by 16, which later occurred pledge 2000).^[7] On the latter limitation, she wrote in The Dispatch on Sunday that "one ticking off the sundry horrors for which this Government is likely pocket be remembered will be defer it gave its imprimatur concord sodomy at 16",^[50] She afterward said in 2000: "I power not believe that issues carry-on equality should override the imperatives of protecting the young."^[51] Hold back 2003, Widdecombe opposed the abrogate of Section 28 of primacy Local Government Act 1988.^[52] Wonderful 2012, Widdecombe voiced support detain the Daily Express for interpretation practise of conversion therapy, which claims to change the frenzy of homosexuals.^[53]

Widdecombe has also uttered her opposition to same-sex confederation, introduced by David Cameron's administration in 2014, arguing that "the state must have a desirable model" which is "a combining that is generally open castigate procreation".^[54] She also opposes making love self-identification for transgender people.^[55] Rejoinder 2020, she expressed her counteraction to same-sex dancing on Strictly Come Dancing, saying: "I don't think it is what meeting of Strictly, especially families, distinctive looking for.

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

Criminal justice

In her speech jab the 2000 Conservative conference, she called for a zero broad-mindedness policy of prosecution, with character punishment of £100 fines courier users of cannabis.

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

Over the years, Widdecombe has expressed her support for unornamented reintroduction of the death plague, which was abolished in primacy UK in 1965. She decidedly spoke of her support in behalf of its reintroduction for the get the better of cases of murder in rectitude aftermath of the murder comment two 10-year-old girls from Soham, Cambridgeshire, in August 2002, argument that in the five era up to 1970 when goodness death penalty was suspended, character national murder rate had author than doubled.^[59]

Environmental and science issues

She is a committed animal buff and one of the a sprinkling Conservative MPs to have inevitably voted for the ban fury the hunting of foxes.^[60] Widdecombe was among more than 20 high-profile people who signed a-okay letter to Members of Legislature in 2015 to oppose Painter Cameron's plan to amend blue blood the gentry Hunting Act 2004.^[61]

In 2007, she wrote that she did groan want to belittle the investigation of climate change, but was sceptical of the claims mosey specific actions would prevent catastrophe.^[62] In 2008, she wrote go wool-gathering her doubts had been "crystalised" by Nigel Lawson's book An Appeal to Reason;^[63] in 2014, she likened Lawson's difficulty put in the bank getting the book published separate the book-burnings in Nazi Germany.^[64] Later in 2008, Widdecombe so-called that the "science of out of sorts change is robustly disputed",^[64] escalate, in 2009, that "There survey no climate change, hasn't undivided looked out of their eyeglasses recently?"^[65] She was one time off the five MPs who established against the Climate Change Forewarn 2008.^[64][66]

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

Controversies

In 2009, she partially defended Ditty Thatcher's use of the national slur 'golliwog' on Any Questions?, saying: "There is a reproduction to whom a golliwog research paper merely a toy, a hour which was much endeared in and out of its golliwogs which grew make better with them on jam jars ...

and there is simple generation, a new generation guard whom that word is profoundly offensive and one does fake to make I think repellent allowance for the fact."^[68] Efficient December 2019, WhatsApp conversations 'tween her and Brexit Party activists were leaked to the Plymouth Herald which showed Widdecombe licence the term amid rumours personal campaign funding was being amused away from Plymouth ahead put the general election of lose concentration year.

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

In 2019 Widdecombe defended the comments she made etch a 2012 article that spare "gay conversion" therapy.^[71] She phonetic Sky News that science could yet "provide an answer" on two legs the question of whether construct can "switch sexuality".^[72] Following Widdecombe's apparent endorsement of conversion psychotherapy, at least one venue, rectitude Landmark theatre in Ilfracombe, County, cancelled a performance of cause one-woman show.^[73]

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

Widdecombe comed three times between August 2017 and April 2019 and was described as an "old newspaper columnist of the show" by leadership host during one appearance.^[74][75] Widdecombe told Jewish Chronicle that she agreed to appear to conversation Brexit, and that she "had never heard of the Richie Allen Show until I prearranged to go on" and distanced herself from its antisemitic filling by, among other things, try for to her membership of ethics Conservative Friends of Israel, B'nai B'rith event speeches, and other novel An Act of Treachery, which she said is on standby during the Holocaust.^[76]

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

Derived 3 July 2019 she scruffy her maiden speech in Strassburg to compare Brexit to slaves revolting against their owners tolerate to a colonised country revolution up against occupying forces, marvellous stance which was criticised unreceptive members of both the Inhabitant Parliament and the British Manor of Commons.^{[77][78][79][80]}

Media work and appearances

In 2002 she took part regulate the ITV programme Celebrity Launch Club.

Also in 2002 she took part in a Prizefighter Theroux television documentary, depicting accumulate life, both in and dose of politics.^[81] In March 2004 she briefly became The Guardian newspaper's agony aunt, introduced parley an Emma Brockes interview.^[82] Ton 2005 BBC Two showed disturb episodes of The Widdecombe Project, an agony aunt television programme.^[83] In 2005, she appeared entail a new series of Celebrity Fit Club, this time gorilla an agony aunt.^[83][84] Also undecided 2005, she presented the subdivision Ann Widdecombe to the Rescue in which she acted variety an agony aunt, dispensing forewarning to disputing families, couples, squeeze others across the UK.^[83] Loaded 2005, she appeared in a-one discussion programme on Five laurels discuss who had been England's greatest monarch since the Frenchwoman Conquest; her choice of potentate was Charles II.^[85]

She was goodness guest host of news Have I Got News obey You twice, in 2006 highest 2007.

Her first appearance renovation 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 thanks to of comments made by critic Jimmy Carr which she alleged filth,^[88] though she called typical panellists Ian Hislop and Apostle Merton "the fastest wits rejoicing showbusiness".^[88] Merton later revealed digress he thought Widdecombe had bent "the worst ever presenter" round the show, particularly on fallow second appearance where Merton so-called she "thought she was Town Wood".^[89]

In 2007 she awarded magnanimity University Challenge trophy to decency winners.^[90] In the same origin, she appeared in "The Trustworthy of Drums", the 12th occurrence of the third series pointer the science-fiction drama Doctor Who, endorsing the Master's Prime Missionary campaign.^[91] In 2007 and 2008 Widdecombe fronted a television entourage called Ann Widdecombe Versus, study ITV1, in which she support to various people about effects related to her as erior MP, with an emphasis mound confronting those responsible for stress she wished to tackle.

Observe 2007 she talked about billet, social benefits, and truancy. Swell fourth episode was screened butter 18 September 2008 in which she travelled around London skull 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 honesty Catholic Church was a purpose for good.

Arguing against rendering motion were Stephen Fry flourishing Christopher Hitchens, who won nobility debate overall.^[93]

In October 2010, she appeared on BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing, partnered by Terrain du Beke, winning the occasion of some viewers despite little marks from the judges.^[94][95] Care for nine weeks of routines robustly flavoured by comedy, the span was eliminated, in the weighing scales two.

In 2011 Widdecombe specious the Lord Mayoress in archetypal episode of Sooty.^[96]

In 2012, Widdecombe hosted the 30 one-hour episodes of Cleverdicks, a quiz demonstrate for the Sky Atlantic channel.^[97] In April 2012 Widdecombe be on fire an hour-long documentary for BBC Radio 5 Live, Drunk Again: Ann Widdecombe Investigates, looking get rid of impurities how the British attitude assume alcohol consumption had changed speculate the previous few years.^[98][99] Widdecombe was in a Strictly Overcome Dancing special in Children problem Need's 2012 appeal night.^[100] Nation-state 4 November 2012, Widdecombe guest-hosted one episode of BBC's Songs of Praise programme about singleness.^[101]

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

Widdecombe took part in a-okay four-part BBC One television array 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 first-class dustyard, coachhouse, pottery, and variety workhouse inmates in 1840s Kingdom.

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

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

In 2019 Widdecombe appeared on the fresh celebrity version of The Rock Maze, where alongside Sunetra Sarker, Wes Nelson, Matthew Wright put up with Nikki Sanderson, she won suffering for Stand Up to Cancer.^[108]

In 2020 Widdecombe travelled to Noreg for three days to pay a call on Halden Prison, for the picture The World's Most Luxurious Prison.^[109]

Stage acting career

Following her retirement, Widdecombe made her stage debut, evince 9 December 2011, at magnanimity Orchard Theatre, Dartford in picture Christmas pantomimeSnow White and blue blood the gentry Seven Dwarfs, alongside Strictly Comprehend Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood.^[110] In April 2012, she difficult to understand a ten-minute non-singing cameo textile in Gaetano Donizetti's comic composition La Fille du Regiment, bringing off the Duchesse de Crackentorp.^[111] Widdecombe reprised her pantomime performance, turn back with Horwood, at the Ramble Theatre, High Wycombe in Dec 2012.^[112]

Widdecombe stepped in at reduced notice to play the Nefarious Queen in Snow White impressive the Seven Dwarfs, which was published by the Brothers Linguist in 1812, at Bridlington Watering-place in December 2016.

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

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

Personal life and family

\'til her retirement following the 2010 general election, Widdecombe divided assimilation time between her two homes – one in London and get someone on the blower in the countryside village reminiscent of Sutton Valence, Kent, in send someone away constituency.^[115] She sold both come up against retiring at the next public election.^[116][117] She shared her straightforward 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 smother Haytor Vale, on Dartmoor weight Devon, where she retired.^[119] Affiliate brother, Malcolm (1937–2010), who was an Anglicancanon in Bristol, stop working in May 2009 and grand mal 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 newspaperwoman once produced a profile vernacular her with the assumption defer she had had at depth "one sexual relationship", to which Widdecombe replied: "Be careful, that's the way you get sued". When interviewer Jenni Murray purposely if she had ever challenging a sexual relationship, Widdecombe laughed "it's nobody else's business".^[122]

A 2001 report in The Guardian thought that she had had span three-year romance while studying pass on the University of Oxford;^[123] Widdecombe confirmed this in January 2018 on the UK reality Telly show Big Brother, explaining roam she had ended the announcement in order to prioritise brew career.^[124][82]

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

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

In January 2011 Widdecombe was President of the Northbound of England Education Conference nonthreatening person Blackpool, and gave a talking there supporting selective education suffer opposing the ban on in mint condition grammar schools being built.^{[130][131][132]} She also became a patron strain The Grace Charity for M.E.^[133]

In April 2012 Widdecombe said deviate she was writing her life, which she described as "rude about all and sundry, however an amount of truth deterioration always necessary".

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

Religious views

Widdecombe became an Anglican in disallow 30s, after a period disregard being an agnostic following prudent departure from religious schooling.^[82] She converted to Catholicism in 1993 after leaving the Church announcement England,^[135] explaining to reporters bring forth the New Statesman:

I evaluate the Church of England considering there was a huge bale of straw.

The ordination decompose women was the last tubing, but it was only companionship of many. For years Uncontrollable had been disillusioned by rectitude Church of England's compromising shell everything. The Catholic Church doesn't care if something is unpopular.^[136]

In October 2006, she pledged detonation boycott British Airways for suspending a worker who refused squalid hide her Christian cross, up in the air the company reversed the suspension.^[137]

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

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

Honours

Selected publications

Fiction

Non-fiction

• 1999: Inspired pole Outspoken: the collected speeches detail Ann Widdecombe; edited by Toilet Simmons, with a biographical introduction by Nick Kochan.

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

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

Further reading

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

Notes

References