Former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe dies at 78

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Ann Widdecombe, former Conservative MP, was elected as an MEP for the Brexit Party in 2019 By Harry Sekulich Published 7 minutes ago Former Conservative minister turned Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe has died aged 78. "It is with great sadness that today we announce the death of The Right Honourable Ann Widdecombe, DSG," a statement from her agents, Cloud 9 Management, said. "We send our deepest condolences to Ann's family and friends," they added. Widdecombe's political career spanned decades, serving as MP for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years, before going on to join Reform UK. She also appeared on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing and was a runner-up on Celebrity Big Brother in 2018. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App . You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X , external to get the latest alerts. Related topics Ann Widdecombe Reform UK Conservative Party More on this story New MEP Widdecombe warns of 'carnage' Published 27 May 2019 Ann Widdecombe to stand for Brexit Party Published 24 April 2019