Widdecombe’s political career spanned decades – she served as MP for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years and worked as a Home Office and employment minister in John Major’s government between 1994 to 1997.
Following news of the police investigation, Starmer said it was “shocking news” and his thoughts were with Widdecombe’s family “at this awful time”.
He said he had spoken to the Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, Reform UK’s Nigel Farage, as well as Andy Burnham, “to urge everybody to come together”.
Badenoch said she was “stunned” and “really struggled to find the words”. She added: “My heart is breaking for her family.”
Likely incoming prime minister Andy Burnham sent his condolences to Widdecombe’s family, and said: “Ann gave a lifetime of public service”.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood urged the public “to avoid speculation and allow the police investigation to progress”.
In a post on X, she said the circumstances of Ann Widdecombe’s death are “extremely distressing”, adding that her “thoughts are with Ann’s family and loved ones”.
Widdecombe was born in Bath, Somerset, in 1947 and went on to study Latin at Birmingham University, then philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford University.
After leaving Parliament she embarked on a showbiz career, appearing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 and Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.
Anton Du Beke, Widdecombe’s dance partner on Strictly, said her death was the “saddest of news”.
“We had an incredible time together,” he said in a video on X.
A staunch supporter of the UK’s departure from the EU, Widdecombe became an MEP for the Brexit Party, representing South West England in the European Parliament between 2019-2020.
In 2023, Widdecombe joined Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, after the party changed its name from the Brexit Party, and made a number of appearances as the party’s immigration and justice spokesperson.
