The former Conservative MP and broadcaster Ann Widdecombe has died aged 78.
Widdecombe, who served as the MP for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years and later became an MEP, also found fame for her media work.
She had previously been an unsuccessful candidate for the Tories in Burnley on her first attempt to become an MP in 1979.
A statement from her management said: “It is with great sadness that today we announce the death of the Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe.
“We send our deepest condolences to Ann’s family and friends.
Ann Widdecombe, the former MP and MEP who also featured on Strictly Come Dancing, has died aged 78, her representative has said.
— LBC News (@LBCNews) July 10, 2026
"We ask that the family’s wish not to be contacted at this sad time is respected.”
Born in Bath on October 4, 1947, she was educated at the Royal Naval School Singapore and La Sainte Union Convent in Bath, before studying Latin at Birmingham University and PPE at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford.
She worked for Unilever and the University of London before entering Parliament.
The political career of Ann Widdecombe
First elected as the MP for Maidstone in 1987, Widdecombe became PPS (Parliamentary Private Secretary) to Tristan Garel-Jones in 1990 and later served as Under Secretary of State for Social Security under John Major, where she specialised in pensions.
She was appointed prisons minister between 1995 and 1997.
In her later political career, she left the Conservatives to join the Brexit Party in 2019 and became a supporter of Reform UK in 2023, most recently serving as Reform’s justice and immigration adviser.
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Widdecombe was a committee member of the Oxford University Conservative Association during her student years and reportedly lived next door to Mary Archer, Edwina Currie, and Michèle Brown, wife of Gyles Brandreth.
She appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2010, lasting until the semi-finals despite low scores from the judges, thanks to strong public support.
Widdecombe also appeared on other shows such as Celebrity Big Brother, hosted Have I Got News For You and the 2002 documentary When Louis Met... Ann Widdecombe with Louis Theroux.
She was a controversial figure, having opposed abortion, opposed assisted dying, and opposed equal rights for LGBTQ+ people, same-sex marriage, same-sex teams on Strictly Come Dancing and spoke vocally in support of conversion therapy.
She quit the Church of England when it allowed women to be ordained as priests.
She was also a climate change sceptic, defended Carol Thatcher's use of a racial slur in 2009 before using it herself in 2019, and tried to compare Brexit to slaves revolting against their owners.
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