In Pictures: Commons stalwart Ann Widdecombe became unlikely dancefloor queen

Then prisons minister Ann Widdecombe celebrates her 129th and final prison visit in 1997 with a cake made by young offenders at Spring Hill open prison, Buckinghamshire (Michael Stephens/PA) - (PA Archive)

Ann Widdecombe proved she could lock horns with anyone in the House of Commons, but when an unexpected opportunity came up to embrace the world of ballroom dancing she was happy to let herself be pushed or pulled around.

The former minister became a familiar face on TV screens after leaving the Commons, not least during her stint on Strictly Come Dancing when partner Anton Du Beke regularly dragged her onto the floor, sometimes literally.

Few would have seen her potential on the dancefloor when she became a well-recognised figure in Tory governments, often enduring mockery but always sticking to her guns – she was often targeted for her appearance and her single status.

Ann Widdecombe, a former Home Office junior minister, in Westminster in 1997 (PA) (PA Archive)

Then prime minister Margaret Thatcher (right) greets Ann Widdecombe (left), with Lady Olga Maitland during a reception in 1984 at No 10 Downing Street for members of the Women and Families for Defence (PA) (PA Archive)

Shadow home secretary Ann Widdecombe highlights the asylum crisis on a visit to Calais, France in 2001 (Sean Dempsey/PA) (PA Archive)

The Oxford graduate was a strong performer at the despatch box, often coming across as strict although she was a strong campaigner for animal rights and a prisons minister who took her responsibilities seriously, making 129 visits to jails during her two years in the job.

She fell out with her boss, then home secretary Michael Howard, while in that role, saying he had “something of the night” about him.

In 1993 she left the Anglican church to become a Catholic, reportedly after disagreeing with the decision to allow women priests, while later in her career she became a passionate Leave advocate in the Brexit debate.

Ann Widdecombe with donkey Dove during a photocall to launch the Christmas campaign for her favourite charity Safe Haven for Donkeys in the Holy Land in 2010 (Yui Mok/PA) (PA Archive)

Ann Widdecombe outside the Atlantic Bar and Grill in central London, at the launch of charity Cats Protection 2001’s campaign Cats Add Life (Michael Crabtree/PA) (PA Archive)

Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe holds a six-foot python in 2002 at the Animal Reception Centre in Heathrow (Tim Ockenden/PA) (PA Archive)

Tory MP Ann Widdecombe outside of the Houses of Parliament (Sean Dempsey/PA) (PA Archive)

Ann Widdecombe prepares for her new role as radio presenter on London’s Biggest Conversation in 2015 (Ian West/PA) (PA Archive)

The cradle Anglican was received into the Catholic church in 1993 after her previous church had voted to allow women priests (Fiona Hanson/PA) (PA Archive)

Then health secretary Frank Dobson, shadow health secretary Ann Widdecombe and Lib Dem health spokesman Simon Hughes attend a recording of BBC1’s Songs Of Praise in 1998 (Stefan Rousseau/PA) (PA Archive)

She displayed a tour de force on Strictly, where she followed the likes of John Sergeant into throwing herself into the role rather than trying to perfect the footwork.

She also remained active politically, supporting Reform UK after becoming disenchanted with the Conservatives for whom she had continued to campaign on the doorstep.

Ann Widdecombe and dancing partner Anton Du Beke during rehearsals for Strictly Come Dancing at BBC Television Centre in west London in 2010 (Yui Mok/PA) (PA Archive)

She eventually left the Tories for the Brexit Party which she represented as an MEP before ties were severed with the EU and later linked up with Reform UK.

Ann Widdecombe MP is is ‘voluntarily’ arrested in 2007 to raise money for Guide Dogs For The Blind (Joel Ryan/PA) (PA Archive)

Ann Widdecombe in trademark pose and Anton du Beke go through their routine in 2010 at Blackpool’s Tower Ballroom (Peter Byrne/PA) (PA Archive)

Leader of the Brexit Party Nigel Farage with former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe after she defected from the Conservatives in 2019 (Stefan Rousseau/PA) (PA Archive)

Ann Widdecombe speaking during a Reform UK general election campaign launch in Westminster, London in 2024 (Lucy North/PA) (PA Archive)

Reform spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe speaking during the Reform UK Cornwall conference at Carn Brea Leisure Centre, Redruth in 2025 (Ben Birchall/PA) (PA Archive)