Anne Widdecombe has died

As well as a politician she was also a 78 year old women, the motive ( if it is foul play) could be related to either of those factors.

I'm upset to read that it's a possible muder investigation, I didn't agree with all her pov, but didn't dislike her and as with the previous two murdered politicians, too awful to contemplate.

Goodness- a suspicious death police investigation is always both alarming and sad- whatever anyone felt about Anne W.

Yes it is on the BBC. How horrific.

I found many of her views abhorrent but I’m glad that those who knew her personally found her kind and supportive.

BBC are calling it a murder investigation.

That is very concerning. A statement to be made by police later.

Sago

Police have launched an investigation into her death.

What? That sounds utterly horrific or is it just that she died alone unexpectedly?

Police have launched an investigation into her death.

I can only think that some of her views and beliefs came from her own lived, or rather non-lived, experiences, ie single, few if any sexual experiences, no children.
And I think, in common with many MPs, an absence of understanding of the lived experience of those less privileged. I felt that she hid behind her religion and used her out-dated interpretation of this to hide behind.

She was deaf to the needs of others except at a personal level .... that is not good enough in a politician whose job it is to represent all their constituents: gay, poor, misguided, undereducated .... whatever.

To be honest I found some of her views and pronouncements deeply offensive and inhumane.... a poor representative of Christian principles in the 21st century.

It was the shackling of female prisoners that is the stand out thing for me. I never forgot it and can’t forgive or forget something like that especially from someone that makes a point of being religious.

Barbadosbelle

MaizieD

Good call. Best not to "flower' your comments with hyperbole!!!
.

I’ve literally never read any comment from MazieD which “flowers her comments with hyperbole”

Maybe I should be asking you about your water supply??

Barbadosbelle

Cossy

Was there something in your water supply?!
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I’m sorry? What does that even mean please?

nanna8

By all accounts she was a kind and thoughtful person whether you agreed with her politics or not.

Her stance on the gay community went way beyond politics, I’m not sure any kind of thoughtful person would want anyone subjected to conversion therapy.

She was an extremely hard working, well educated and professional person. She may well have been kind and thoughtful to “some people”, but I’m afraid I don’t feel her attitudes to some groups of people don’t really gel with my views of Christianity.

She achieved a lots in her professional life and was a great Tory MP, however my views of her changed when she defected to the Brexit Party, then Reform and was much more outspoken on her views of gay people and abortion and I certainly didn’t agree that non violent pregnant female prisoners should be shackled when having hospital check ups and in the early stages of labour. She supported this on more than one occasion. I can only think that some of her views and beliefs came from her own lived, or rather non-lived, experiences, ie single, few if any sexual experiences, no children.

MaizieD

Good call. Best not to "flower' your comments with hyperbole!!!
.

Cossy

Was there something in your water supply?!
.

By all accounts she was a kind and thoughtful person whether you agreed with her politics or not.

RIP. She had the kind of personality that is now extinct in public life.

I liked her no nonsense style.

She presented the prizes at DD3's last Speech Day. She had a lovely chat with every child receiving a prize and in her speech she pointed out that she was really well educated - having been to Oxford and/or Cambridge -and was now a lowly minister but John Major had left school at 16 and was now Prime Minister and, therefore, anything is possible.

Despite her very right-wing views on most subjects, oddly enough she voted to ban hunting with dogs. I can't say I agreed with her opinions and remember when she and other Brexiteers turned their backs in the EU Parliament when the Ode to Joy was being played. (If I've misremembered this, please correct me). I wonder what she felt about the appointment of a woman as Archbishop of Canterbury, given her views on female ordination.

You are entitled to your opinion mrsmeldrew but why just say dreadful woman. Explain why as that statement has no relevance.

eazybee

I liked and admired Anne Widdecombe.
Highly intelligent, very hard worker, mistress of the riposte, a great deal of common sense tempered with sympathy, and the ability to laugh at herself.
I remember her saying when asked why she had decided to join Strictly, that all her life she had been responsible for or to a position; now she was retired she was going to have some fun, and I hope she enjoyed it.
A life well spent..

Exactly this…
RIP Anne

A dreadful woman.

Ilovecheese

I can't admire someone who thought women prisoners should give birth in handcuffs.

Indeed - some of her views were directly in conflict with her professed christian ethics.

I admire people who are principled, but where that involves damning whole groups of decent people (gay people for instance) my admiration drains away somewhat rapidly.

I think she was sheltered from the realities of how some people have had to live their lives and her pronouncements were based on this lack of understanding. She took shelter in rigid thinking. I cannot admire that.

It is sad when anyone dies - well, perhaps not anyone! - and presumably her family will be sad.

Ilovecheese

I can't admire someone who thought women prisoners should give birth in handcuffs.

Absolute nonsense! She was totally clear that once women prisoners were in labour they should not be handcuffed.