The Right Honourable Ann Widdecombe
4 October 1947 – 9 July 2026
With profound sadness, gratitude and respect, Right First Time UK remembers Ann Widdecombe: parliamentarian, minister, campaigner, author, broadcaster and steadfast servant of the British people.
For more than three decades, Ann was an unmistakable presence in British public life. She represented Maidstone, and later Maidstone and The Weald, in the House of Commons from 1987 until 2010. Her parliamentary career was marked by determination, intellectual independence and an enduring willingness to defend her beliefs, even when doing so was difficult or unpopular.
During her years in Parliament, she served in government as a minister in the departments of Social Security, Employment and Prisons. In opposition, she held senior responsibilities including Shadow Health Secretary and Shadow Home Secretary. She approached public office seriously, speaking directly and expecting high standards from both government and Parliament.
“She did not enter public life merely to follow opinion. She entered it to speak honestly, serve faithfully and stand firmly for what she believed was right.”
Ann’s politics were rooted in personal conviction, Christian faith, responsibility, national sovereignty and respect for the institutions of the United Kingdom. People did not always agree with her, but few could doubt her sincerity, resilience or courage.
Her independence was one of her defining qualities. She was prepared to challenge opponents, colleagues and prevailing political fashion. She demonstrated that public service requires more than popularity: it requires principle, personal strength and the willingness to accept criticism while remaining true to one’s conscience.
A committed Eurosceptic, Ann supported the campaign for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union. In 2019, she returned to elected political office as a Member of the European Parliament for South West England, using that role to argue forcefully for the democratic decision made by the British electorate in the 2016 referendum.
Beyond Westminster, Ann was an accomplished author who wrote both fiction and non-fiction, as well as a familiar broadcaster, public speaker and television personality. Whether delivering a political speech or taking part in a television programme, she remained recognisably herself — serious, witty, forthright and resilient.
Alongside her political work, Ann was also known for her concern for animal welfare and her support for charitable causes. Behind the formidable public reputation was a woman of loyalty, humour, discipline and compassion.
