Ann Widdecombe: uncompromising politician who embraced TV fame

On Wednesday, shortly after Nigel Farage announced he would stand down from his parliamentary seat in Clacton to trigger a byelection, Ann Widdecombe appeared by video link on Talk TV to praise his decision.

“This is a very decisive man,” Widdecombe told the interviewer, speaking with the same forthright conviction that had defined her controversial political career and more eccentric parliamentary afterlife.

Widdecombe, formerly a Conservative, joined the Brexit party – which later became Reform UK – in 2019 and Farage, she said, had shown “the sort of decision taking that is needed in the leader of the country”.

The following morning, the 78-year-old was found dead at her Devon home, having sustained serious injuries. A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. ---More...

"Nobody has the right to live their lives being protected from offence, or from insult or from hurt feelings - it is an occupational hazard of living in society"

And if you really can't take it, become a hermit"

Here is the brilliant full speech
They all loved her

RIP Widders pic.twitter.com/DDUPKyFNS7

— Lee Harris (@LeeHarris)July 10, 2026