Ann Widdecombe/Image: Getty Images
Former Conservative minister and Reform UK member Ann Widdecombe has died at the age of 78, ending a political career that spanned more than three decades and later included roles in television and European politics.Her death was confirmed by her agents, Cloud 9 Management, who said she had devoted her life to public service and was guided by strong Christian values. “It is with great sadness that today we announce the death of The Right Honourable Ann Widdecombe,” the agency said, offering condolences to her family and friends, as cited by BBC.Born in Bath, Somerset, on October 4, 1947, Widdecombe was elected to Parliament in 1987 as the Conservative MP for Maidstone and The Weald, a constituency she represented for 23 years before stepping down in 2010.She held ministerial positions during John Major’s government, serving at the Home Office and later as employment minister between 1994 and 1997. After the Conservatives moved into opposition, she became a senior figure on the front bench, taking on roles as shadow home secretary and later shadow health secretary.After leaving Westminster, Widdecombe gained a wider public profile through television, appearing on shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and finishing as runner-up on Celebrity Big Brother in 2018. She returned to politics in 2019 with the Brexit Party, securing election as a Member of the European Parliament for South West England. She remained in the role until the UK’s departure from the European Union in 2020.A strong advocate for Brexit, Widdecombe later joined Reform UK following the party’s rebranding in 2023. She served as its immigration spokesperson and continued to make regular media appearances.
