The death of Ann Widdecombe has revealed the vicious snarling Left for what they are, argues Giles Sheldrick. Ms Widdecombe, 78, was found dead at her Devon home in a suspected murder. The former politician—first a socially conservative Tory and later Brexit Party and Reform MEP and activist—was immoveable in her faith and beliefs. In truth, she is probably giggling at some of the bitching and sniping aimed at her following her tragic death.
Left's Vitriol Exposed
The vitriol and bile spewed at her passing says more about the rabid Left than it does about her or the stances she took—which remained unchanged over decades. The hand-wringers occupying that area of politics often blame the Right and its advocates for encouraging hate, but they should have a look in the mirror.
Peter Tatchell, the Australian-born British gay human rights campaigner, was one of the first out of the blocks, saying in the moments after her death, which is now a murder probe: “She opposed every gay law reform for 40 years, supporting every legal discrimination against LGBTs. She also backed bids to ‘cure’ homosexuality and said people should have the right to discriminate against LGBTs,” before signing off his post “BIGOT!”
This is the same man who has spent the years since the 1983 Bermondsey by-election, which he fought as a hard Left Labour candidate and lost to Liberal Simon Hughes, moaning that it was one of the dirtiest and most violent in history. He was later forced to issue a grovelling apology after anger turned on him, saying: “I apologise for my insensitive comments about Ann Widdecombe’s death. Nobody deserves to die, no matter what they believe in. My sincere condolences to Ann’s family and friends. I support the police investigation and want justice for Ann.”
Misogynistic Comments from Former Sky Presenter
The same goes for holier-than-thou former Sky News presenter Adam Boulton, who initially refused to say sorry for labelling Ms Widdecombe a “spinster” and an “old maid” on live TV in comments so insensitive and unnecessary many wondered why they were uttered other than because of a deep-seated personal agenda. He attempted to defend his appallingly misogynistic comments by claiming he was a fact-based journalist, but it was only after he was bombarded with abuse he turned tail and, through gritted teeth, said: “I got the timing and tone of my initial word portrait of her wrong. Of course I shared, and share, the horror at her murder and the respect for her remarkable and feisty political career. I also know that many people loved her for her subsequent showbiz stardom. Her untimely death is a horrible thing.”
The venom with which the Left operates is rarely acknowledged but hides in plain sight. Take Labour—the snarling and cowardly clowns who have pushed Britain towards the precipice after two ruinous years running Britain. Before May’s local elections, the party ordered a hit job on Reform in an attack video featuring a lone actress sat in a pub downing a pint reciting utterances made by Reform candidates, councillors, and MPs, in a send-up of its leader Nigel Farage. It was so offensive that it was banned on TV but happily pumped out online.
Labour's Attack Video and Minister's Reaction
Labour said: “Our uncensored party election broadcast exposes comments made by Reform politicians that are too offensive to be aired on TV. We must reveal the true extent of the appalling views Nigel Farage and the people behind him really hold. It’s down to us to make sure voters see it to show why we need to beat Reform.” That prompted snivelling Labour minister Chris Bryant, a long-time critic of Farage, Reform, and the Right, to say he was “sceptical that any party political broadcast could shock me.” He said: “I’ve seen it all before and so on. But I’m still spooked by this. In the end it’s all about the character of Reform, their leading members and the kind of things they not only believe but say.”
And that’s it. Of course it would be both wrong and highly irresponsible to speculate about the motivation for Ms Widdecombe’s death at her secluded Devon home. But how dare the Left pretend that hostility, acrimony, and bitterness is a monopoly owned by those on the Right.
Widdecombe's Philosophy on Life
Ms Widdecombe was better than that and, despite many verbal attacks over the decades, had a pragmatic take on life. During an appearance on The Graham Norton Show in 2011, she received rapturous applause after revealing her simple take on life. She said: “None of us knows how long we will live—I could die tomorrow but I could, if I follow my mother for example, live another three decades. I do not know what is going to come up, or what I am going to do during that time, so I may be remembered neither for politics, nor for Strictly, but for something else that I can't even foresee at the moment. We get one go this side of eternity. One go. It is not a dress rehearsal... you take opportunities that come along that you like and you go for it. And that’s my philosophy.”
