Ann Widdecombe represented British politics at its best: she was deeply principled and sincere, yet warm and dignified. But in the response to her death, over this weekend, we saw some of the worst of British political culture: the absolute gutter of the left-wing Twitterati gloating, based on the views she held with which they disagreed.
Among their ranks was Peter Tatchell, who initially took to X to announce the death in a celebratory tone, pointing out her long-held disapproval of same sex marriage and calling her a “BIGOT”. After a severe backlash, he deleted the tweet and apologised.
British society has never looked so classless
Yet BlueSky – and indeed, parts of X – is crawling with deranged Tatchell-sympathisers practically singing “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead”. British society has never looked so classless. Whatever one thought of her politics, whatever one thought of her views, the death of a public figure – particularly one who appears to have been the victim of a violent crime – should provoke a basic human response of sympathy and respect. Did their mothers never tell them that if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all?
But beneath the outrage lies a question that Britain has not actually settled as neatly as some imagine: in 2026, are people still allowed to believe that marriage is the union of a man and a woman?
