Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAnn Widdecombe warns Rupert Lowe's party only obstacle to Reform UK in one of her final public appearancesAnn Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister and later Reform UK member, has died at the age of 78. She served as an MP for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years, holding ministerial roles for prisons and employment in John Major's government, and later as shadow home and health secretary. After leaving the House of Commons in 2010, Widdecombe appeared on popular television shows including Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother. She returned to politics in 2019 with the Brexit Party, winning a seat in the European Parliament which she held until the UK left the EU in 2020. Her death was confirmed by her agents, Cloud 9 Management, who stated her career was driven by strong Christian values and a commitment to public service. In fullFormer Conservative minister Anne Widdecombe dies aged 78More bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Former Tory MP Ann Widdecombe dies aged 78
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAnn Widdecombe warns Rupert Lowe's party only obstacle to Reform UK in one of her final public appearancesAnn Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister and later Reform UK member, has died at the age of 78. She served as an MP for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years, holding ministerial roles for prisons and employment in John Major's government, and later as shadow home and health secretary. After leaving the House of Commons in 2010, Widdecombe appeared on popular television shows including Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother. She returned to politics in 2019 with the Brexit Party, winning a seat in the European Parliament which she held until the UK left the EU in 2020. Her death was confirmed by her agents, Cloud 9 Management, who stated her career was driven by strong Christian values and a commitment to public service. In fullFormer Conservative minister Anne Widdecombe dies aged 78More bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
