Of all the many articles I have read following the death of Ann Widdecombe, I think Gaby Hinsliff’s piece got closest to portraying her unique character (Ann Widdecombe’s death should make Britain ask itself: what sort of political culture do we want?, 17 July). I entered the Commons in 1987, at the same time as Ann, and got to know her well as a formidable opponent through doing media interviews and committee work together. We fundamentally disagreed on most issues, but always without rancour.
Our most heated clash was over my amendment to adoption legislation to allow unmarried partners to apply to adopt. It was a strange situation where we had Ann, who as Hinsliff recalled, publicly professed to being “a middle-aged virgin”, passionately arguing the case for marriage, while I, married with children, put forward the numerous merits of single people.
Ann had, as a key quality, a fine sense of humour and shared colleagues’ amusement over the absurdity of our contrasting positions.
David Hinchliffe
Labour MP for Wakefield, 1987–2005
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