Ann Widdecombe found dead at her home
Former Conservative MP and television personality Ann Widdecombe was found dead at her home in Kent on Monday morning, police have confirmed. The 78-year-old had not been seen for several days, prompting a welfare check by officers.
Final public appearance and timeline
Widdecombe's last known public appearance was at a literary festival in Bath on July 3, where she discussed her memoirs. She returned home on July 4. Friends became concerned after she failed to respond to messages and calls. On July 11, a friend contacted Kent Police, who attended her property near Cranbrook and found her deceased.
Police investigation and initial findings
Kent Police said in a statement: 'Officers attended a property in the Cranbrook area at around 10am on Monday, July 12, following a concern for welfare. A woman in her 70s was found deceased. The death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious.' A post-mortem examination is scheduled for later this week, with results expected to determine the cause of death.
Reactions and tributes
Tributes have poured in from across the political spectrum. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: 'Ann Widdecombe was a formidable figure who served her constituents with dedication and brought her unique personality to public life.' Labour leader Keir Starmer described her as 'a passionate campaigner who always stood by her principles.' Widdecombe served as MP for Maidstone and then Maidstone and The Weald from 1987 to 2010, and later became a reality TV star on shows including Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.
Background and legacy
Born in 1947, Widdecombe studied at the University of Birmingham and later Oxford. She entered Parliament in 1987 and held junior ministerial roles in the Home Office and Department of Social Security. Known for her outspoken views on social issues, she was a prominent Eurosceptic and later joined the Brexit Party, serving as a Member of the European Parliament from 2019 to 2020. Her death marks the end of a distinctive career in British politics and entertainment.
