Ann Widdecombe, the former Conservative politician and minister, has died. Known for her confrontational style and strong opinions, she served as minister of state for employment in 1994, a period that one letter writer remembers for a surprising act of bipartisanship.
A personal recollection
In a letter to the Guardian, an individual who detested Widdecombe's politics and approach recalls briefing her on research about age discrimination against older workers. Despite their political differences, Widdecombe showed a keen interest in the findings and expressed considerable outrage.
Swift action on age limits
She then acted quickly to address one of the wrongs the research revealed, abolishing the upper age limit on the government's own training scheme for unemployed people. This move was seen as a direct response to the evidence presented to her.
