Ann Widdecombe

It all started in 1947...

Ann was born on 4th October 1947 in Bath, Somerset. The daughter of James Murray Widdecombe CB OBE and Mrs. Rita Widdecombe. Her father's occupation was Head of Naval Supplies & Transport, Ministry of Defence.

Education

Ann was educated at the Royal Naval School Singapore, La Sainte Union Convent Bath, Birmingham University (BA Hons Latin) and Oxford University (BA Hons Politics, Philosophy and Economics) LMH MA 1976. She was the secretary (1971) and Treasurer (1972) of The Oxford Union. Ann was also a committee Member of Oxford University Conservative Association.

Early Working Life

Ann worked in marketing at Unilever from 1973 to 1975 and was Senior Administrator at London University from 1975 to 1987.

Politics

From an early interest and achievements in politics at Oxford, Ann became the Member of Parliament for Maidstone in 1987 and she held the seat until 2010. The seat became known as Maidstone and The Weald in 1997.

• 1976

  Ann becomes a District Councillor for Runnymede Council.

• 1979

  Candidate for Burnley where she halved Labour majority.

• 1983

  Candidate for Plymouth Devonport against Dr. David Owen.

• 1987

  Elected Member of Parliament for Maidstone 1987.

• 1990
  • Appointed PPS to Tristan Garel-Jones Minister at the Foreign Office.
  • Appointed Under Secretary of State for Social Security in John Major's first administration where she specialised in pensions.
• 1993

  Appointed Under Secretary of State Department of Employment.

• 1994

  Minister of State Department of Employment.

• 1995

  Minister of State Home Office with responsibility for prisons and immigration.

• 1997

  Member of Standards and Privileges Committee of the House of Commons.

• 1998

  Shadow Health Secretary.

• 1999

  Shadow Home Secretary.

• 2001

  Announced intention to retire from Shadow Front Bench at the same time as deciding not to stand for the Leadership of the Party.

• 2007

  October 2007 Announced her intention to retire at the next General Election.

• 2019
  • April: Announces intention to stand as Brexit Party MEP candidate.
  • May: Becomes one of three South West MEP's.
  • November: Runs as MP for Brexit Party.
  • December 31st: Ends her MEP role following the UK's departure from the EU.
• 2020

  Continues as a member of The Brexit Party to monitor Brexit transition/agreement progress.

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