Ann Widdecombe, former Conservative MP and spokesperson for Reform Britain, dies at 78 World News
Ann Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister and member of the Reform Party, has died aged 78, ending a political career that spanned more than three decades and later ventured into television and European politics.Her agent, Cloud 9 Management, confirmed her death and said she had dedicated her life to public service and was guided by strong Christian values. “It is with great sadness that we announce today the death of the Honorable Ann Widdecombe,” the agency said, offering its condolences to her family and friends, according to the BBC.Widdecombe was born in Bath, Somerset, on October 4, 1947. She was elected to parliament in 1987 as the Conservative MP for Maidstone and Weald constituency, which she represented for 23 years before resigning in 2010.She held ministerial posts during John Major’s government, serving in the Home Office and later as Employment Minister from 1994 to 1997. After the Conservatives moved into opposition, she became a senior figure on the front bench, serving as shadow home secretary and shadow health secretary.Since leaving Westminster, Widdecombe has 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 and was elected to the European Parliament for South West England. She will serve in this role until the UK leaves the EU in 2020.Widdecombe is a staunch supporter of Brexit and later joined the Reform Party following its 2023 rebrand. She serves as the party’s immigration spokesperson and continues to make regular media appearances.
