Former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokesperson Ann Widdecombe was found dead at her home in Devon on Thursday, aged 78. A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, police confirmed. The discovery came just hours after she appeared by video link on Talk TV to praise Nigel Farage's decision to stand down from his Clacton parliamentary seat and trigger a by-election.
Final Media Appearance and Praise for Farage
On Wednesday, Widdecombe told Talk TV interviewer that Farage had shown “the sort of decision taking that is needed in the leader of the country.” She had joined the Brexit Party—later Reform UK—in 2019 after being expelled from the Conservatives for campaigning for Farage. Widdecombe served as Reform's immigration and justice spokesperson until her death.
Political Career: From Tory Minister to Hardliner
Widdecombe served as an MP for 23 years, including seven years as a junior minister under John Major. As prisons minister in 1996, she defended the handcuffing of pregnant prisoners during antenatal appointments, stating: “Some MPs may like to think that a pregnant woman would not or could not escape. Unfortunately this is not true.” She also proposed a mandatory £100 fine for possession of soft drugs but later withdrew the plan after police and parliamentary criticism.
In 1997, she famously described her colleague Michael Howard as having “something of the night” about him, a comment widely credited with sinking his Conservative leadership bid at the time. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson called her “a heroic Brexiteer and a great speaker who could move Tory audiences to such ecstasy that she was a very hard act to follow.”
Unlikely Celebrity: Strictly and Beyond
After leaving Parliament in 2010, Widdecombe became an unlikely television star. She joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2010, paired with professional dancer Anton Du Beke. Judges likened her to “the Ark Royal, a Dalek in drag, Vera Duckworth’s grandmother, haemorrhoids and a lame canary.” She later said: “I loved the fact that there was no responsibility. For years everything I’d done was going to affect people. With Strictly … it couldn’t affect anything.”
Du Beke expressed devastation at her death, saying in a video on X: “I had the most brilliant time with Ann on Strictly Come Dancing. She became a real friend. She was fun. She was upbeat. She was positive. She was supportive. We had an incredible time together and we stayed firm friends.” Broadcaster Gyles Brandreth described her as a “curious mix of Danny DeVito and Margaret Rutherford.”
Controversial Views and Legacy
Widdecombe remained staunchly opposed to abortion and same-sex marriage throughout her life. In 2018, on Celebrity Big Brother, she faced accusations of victim-blaming when discussing Harvey Weinstein's victims, saying: “It’s down to them, they had a choice.” She also opposed same-sex couples on Strictly, stating of boxer Nicola Adams’s pairing with a female dancer: “I don’t think it is what viewers of Strictly, especially families, are looking for.”
Despite her hardline views, Widdecombe embraced her media fame with self-deprecating humor. She once told the Guardian about Ed Balls’s dancing: “I wouldn’t call that dancing, dear.” She also made cameo appearances on Sooty and Doctor Who, and hosted Have I Got News For You twice.
Investigation and Tributes
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that a 26-year-old man from the local area has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody. Tributes have poured in from across the political and entertainment spectrum, highlighting her unique blend of conviction and eccentricity.
