Tributes pour in for ‘formidable’ Ann Widdecombe from the worlds of politics and television

Ann Widdecombe’s politics were divisive – she opposed abortion, gay rights and assisted dying, while supporting the reintroduction of the death penalty; a vocal and early supporter of Brexit, she became the Reform party’s immigration and justice spokesperson in 2023 – but her death last week, aged 78, was remarked on with grief from a striking spectrum of personalities, including those beyond the world of politics.

She was “a one-off”, said Jack Straw, who often sparred with her when he was home secretary. “She was full of surprises, and not remotely a classic right-winger. She had passionate views, mainly informed by her profound Christian faith, which happened to place her on the right. But she was also, for example, a strong believer in an effective public service. As a parliamentarian, she was formidable. As home secretary I had had a pretty easy ride from her two predecessors as shadow home secretary. Then Ann was appointed – and whoosh, I didn’t quite know what had hit me for a good nine months. She labelled me ‘Calamity Jack’, and stuck it to me. I had no alternative but to raise my game.” But in private, Straw said, she was “lovely, with a wicked sense of humour. How disturbing that her life should have ended like this.”

Devon and Cornwall police have confirmed that they are investigating her death as murder. In a press conference last week they said there was so far no evidence to suggest it was politically motivated.

Speaking on the Today programme on Saturday, her friend Gyles Brandreth, the broadcaster and former MP, called her a “formidable debater”. The two first met at the Oxford Union in 1967. “You could disagree with her – and I disagreed with her on so many issues, more and more as the years went by – but she enjoyed a good roustabout, and then it was over, you would go to the bar and you’d have a drink and you’d have a laugh about it.” David Gauke, former Conservative justice secretary, agreed: “She was forthright and formidable but someone with whom you could disagree without personal rancour.”

Former home secretary Amber Rudd said: “When she was still a Conservative, she was a VVIP for any Conservative Association event. She kindly came to Hastings for our annual shindig in 2012 — and was mobbed and adored by all the members, and gave a barnstormer speech. A brilliant performer and entertainer as much as a politician.”

Widdecombe’s former colleague Michael Howard – whom she famously described as having “something of the night about him” when he stood for leader of the Conservative Party in 1997 – said her death was “deeply shocking” and described her “as a very feisty lady who made a huge contribution to our national life. She will be greatly missed.”

It was that national life – outside of parliament, from which Widdecombe retired in 2010 – that many people will remember. It widened her circle of acquaintance greatly and led to tributes coming from what would have been thought, at the beginning of her career, as unexpected quarters.

Anton Du Beke, her partner on Strictly Come Dancing in 2010, which propelled her into the spotlight as a celebrity, said in a video posted on X that Widdecombe “became a real friend”. “She was fun, she was upbeat, she was positive, she was supportive, she was game, wanted to enter into the spirit of the whole thing,” he said. In an Instagram post published before the public was made aware of the manner of her death, Ashley James, who appeared with her on Celebrity Big Brother, called many of Widdecombe’s views “deplorable” but said she had a “profound impact” on her nonetheless.

Photograph by David Levenson/Getty Images