Ann Widdecombe, The Former Conservative Minister Who Later Became A Reform UK Spokeswoman, Has Died Aged 78

Ann Widdecombe, the former Conservative minister who later became a Reform UK spokeswoman, has died aged 78, according to a statement from her representatives. Widdecombe was a Conservative MP from 1987 to 2010, representing Maidstone and later Maidstone and The Weald, and served as a minister in John Major’s government, including roles connected with employment and prisons. After leaving the Conservatives, she became a prominent Brexit supporter, served as a Brexit Party MEP from 2019 to 2020, and later aligned herself with Reform UK. She remained a visible figure in public life through television appearances, including Strictly Come Dancing in 2010. Political figures from across the spectrum have paid tribute, with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage describing her as a major force within the movement, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called her a formidable politician. Her career was marked by strong conservative views, outspoken parliamentary interventions, and a distinctive public style that made her one of the more recognisable British political figures of her generation.