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Anne Widdecombe has died

(106 Posts)
Primrose53 Fri 10-Jul-26 07:41:29

Quite shocked to hear this today.

Always liked Anne. She spoke her mind and was a good sport.

RIP Anne.

rafichagran Fri 10-Jul-26 12:40:15

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

ReturningFromExile Fri 10-Jul-26 12:42:54

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.

kittylester Fri 10-Jul-26 13:30:32

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.

luluaugust Fri 10-Jul-26 13:40:05

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

nanna8 Fri 10-Jul-26 13:42:39

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

Barbadosbelle Fri 10-Jul-26 14:20:39

Cossy

Was there something in your water supply?!
.

Barbadosbelle Fri 10-Jul-26 14:25:52

MaizieD

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

Cossy Fri 10-Jul-26 14:26:49

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.

Cossy Fri 10-Jul-26 14:27:23

Barbadosbelle

Cossy

Was there something in your water supply?!
.

I’m sorry? What does that even mean please?

Cossy Fri 10-Jul-26 14:31:38

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??

MayBee70 Fri 10-Jul-26 14:33:27

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.

Luckygirl3 Fri 10-Jul-26 14:58:46

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.

Sago Fri 10-Jul-26 15:17:06

Police have launched an investigation into her death.

Cossy Fri 10-Jul-26 15:34:15

Sago

Police have launched an investigation into her death.

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

Luckygirl3 Fri 10-Jul-26 15:35:40

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

Nandalot Fri 10-Jul-26 15:47:38

BBC are calling it a murder investigation.

DamaskRose Fri 10-Jul-26 15:48:34

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

Galaxy Fri 10-Jul-26 15:50:14

Yes it is on the BBC. How horrific.

LemonJam Fri 10-Jul-26 15:50:27

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

TerriBull Fri 10-Jul-26 15:51:13

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.

Galaxy Fri 10-Jul-26 15:55:08

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.

MawsRosie Fri 10-Jul-26 16:10:46

I know there is another thread on this but anyway
‘Police have launched a murder investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe
Devon and Cornwall Police say the 78-year-old was found at her home on Dartmoor in Devon on Thursday with serious injuries
They are looking for a white male in connection with their investigation, which they say is "moving at a significant pace"
Police are expected to hold a news conference at 16:30 BST
Widdecombe, the former Conservative minister turned Reform UK spokeswoman, served as the MP for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says she is "deeply saddened" to learn of Widdecombe's death and urges the public "to avoid speculation"’

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Fri 10-Jul-26 16:11:05

Oh no!

Latest:

New
Widdecombe death being investigated
Detectives are looking into the case of the former Conservative Party minister who was found dead at her home aged 78

New
Police seek white male
Officers searching for information on whereabouts of suspect

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Fri 10-Jul-26 16:11:37

X posts Maw

rafichagran Fri 10-Jul-26 16:20:32

I will watch at 4.30. I am truly shocked by this. I liked and respected the woman even though I did not agree with her views.