Ann Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister and politician of several decades’ standing, and in recent years a member of Reform UK, has been found murdered in her home in Dartmoor, England. Widdecombe was known for her honest and quick-witted replies and for her Christian and conservative principles, from which she never budged an inch. She was also known for taking part in Strictly Come Dancing, the original British version of “Skal vi danse”. Widdecombe was 78.

Police report that a murder investigation has been launched after the popular politician was found dead with serious head injuries at her home in Haytor, Dartmoor, on Thursday morning. Police have arrested a “white British” man in connection with the killing. Her death came as a shock to many, as Widdecombe had remained an active commentator on television and radio until only a couple of days ago. The shock is all the greater because she did not die of natural causes, but was beaten to death.

For Norwegians, it is difficult to describe just how well known and beloved Widdecombe was. She never became well known beyond the country’s borders, but she was what in English is called a “national treasure”. Through the programme Strictly Come Dancing, she also became known outside politics, and she additionally took part in a programme about weight loss (!), having struggled for years to lose weight. In social-media comment sections, people repeatedly express how highly she was regarded, including by those who disagreed profoundly with her politically. She represented Maidstone in Kent in Parliament for the Conservative Party for many years, and later became a member of the Brexit Party and of the European Parliament from 2019 to 2020. She subsequently joined Reform and was a frequent guest on, among others, the BBC, GB News and TalkTV, and also wrote articles on subjects that concerned her for the conservative press. She had a regular column in the Daily Express.

Conservative with a capital C

As a politician, she did not care which way the wind was blowing, but remained faithful to her views and did not conceal them. She was a Conservative with a capital C: she opposed abortion, supported the death penalty, opposed assisted dying, and disagreed that homosexuals should be allowed to marry. As a parliamentarian, she was exceptionally hard-working and served those she represented, regardless of whether they had voted for her.

On Facebook, one user, who was not a Conservative, describes how Widdecombe worked tirelessly to help her obtain assistance for her disabled son, and she was not alone in recounting such anecdotes. Widdecombe was formidable in debate, but warm-hearted towards her fellow human beings – a true Christian.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told journalists that it was important to “rise above political differences”:

“This is a moment when we rise above all political differences, the political divide. This is shocking news, and my thoughts, and everyone’s thoughts, I think, are with Ann Widdecombe’s family and friends at this terrible time for them. Ann was a distinguished politician for many, many years, with many achievements, and it is an enormous, enormous loss.”

Police say they are not treating the case as terror-related. Had the motive been political, it could have served as yet another wake-up call for Britain. For far too long, public debate has become increasingly polarised, and we are approaching American conditions in which family members do not speak to one another because they stand on opposite sides politically. The dehumanisation of political opponents can have fatal consequences, and this is not the first time prominent politicians have been murdered – David Amess, who was incidentally a good friend of Widdecombe, was murdered by an Islamist in 2021, and Jo Cox, a Labour politician, was murdered by a far-right extremist in 2016. It is still early in the investigation, but for now it appears that the killing was not politically motivated.

“The witch is dead”

Despite her popularity, this polarisation is also evident on social media. “The witch is dead,” one person writes. “Sad for the family, but I will not miss her far-right views,” writes another. “Great to see the tolerant left’s comments,” a third adds laconically.

The most distasteful response from media commentators so far has come from Peter Tatchell, a prominent LGBT activist, who wrote on X:

“Tory ex-MP (Member of Parliament) Ann Widdecombe is dead! She opposed every gay law reform for forty years and supported all legal discrimination against LGBT people. She also backed measures to ‘cure’ homosexuality and said people should have the right to discriminate against LGBT people.”

Rupert Lowe, leader of Restore UK, called Tatchell a “prat” for the ill-timed comment.

Ann Widdecombe is dead, but her steadfastness and drive live on among patriots who want a return to the Britain in which Ann Noreen Widdecombe grew up: a society in which one was allowed to be proud of one’s country, and which had much to be proud of. Widdecombe, who converted to Catholicism as an adult and studied Latin at Birmingham University, mastered the art of speaking plainly, with a sense of humour, but always in complete earnest. “I am toothy, dumpy, ugly, overweight, a spinster – what the hell” was her sharp retort to criticism of her appearance – one newspaper had compared her to Boris Karloff, the Hollywood horror star. She did not take herself too seriously.

Rest in peace, Widders.

Ann Widdecombe – 4 October 1947–9 July 2026