| Blonde bombshell
When Ann Widdecombe
hits town, grown men run shrieking for cover. But is the
MP, author and TV personality really the right-wing demon
she appears? Mark Harris packs a crash helmet and braves
the storm
 WIDDECOMBE
SLAMS pink weddings!” “MP for Maidstone and
The Weald claims common ground with UKIP!” That
an interview with Ann Widdecombe should provide controversial
sound-bites is about as certain as her topping a poll
of the nation’s worst haircuts. All the more since
her chances of putting that haircut to a nationwide poll
as leader of the Conservative Party were scuppered by
what she referred to as a “little band of backbiters”.
In between TV interviews on the Euro-elections, Widdecombe
professes to be “enjoying the break” from
the front benches. She’s been keeping busy with
constituency work, caring for her elderly mother, writing
a series of novels and, of course, appearing on TV shows
from Celebrity Fit Club to Basil Brush.
But, when I note that her forthcoming appearance at the
Theatre Royal coincides with Brighton & Hove’s
unveiling of the country’s first gay weddings, the
fire-brand of old emerges and she states primly: “My
view is that marriage should be retained as a unique institution
and that is as it is currently defined in law, between
a man and a woman,”.
So, is the staunch Catholic and old school Tory expecting
a warm reception in our famously liberal city? “No
matter where I’ve been, audiences have been extremely
warm. They wouldn’t pay to come out if they weren’t
going to enjoy themselves.” Nothing to do with wanting
to see the hair-do, then.
Turning to politics, aren’t some of the UK Independence
Party’s policies close to her own? “The only
common ground that there is with UKIP is that we’re
extremely wary about any further integration into Europe.
UKIP are taking votes away from the Conservatives, which
means that they’re keeping Labour in. It’s
completely counter-productive.”
To write off Widdecombe as a blue-rinse reactionary would
be a big mistake. She’s vehemently anti-hunting,
an exponent of prison reform and a critic of medical vivisection:
“I’m not an extremist; I’m not a vegetarian;
I’m not someone who believes that animals have equal
rights to humans. But I do believe that we have a duty
of care to animals.”
In 1997 she was pivotal in keeping Michael Howard from
taking over the reins of the Conservative Party, saying
there was “something of the night” about him.
She also said, “I intend to hurt him politically
and wreck his chance of leadership.” Seven years
on, does she feel she’s failed? “There’s
no doubt that, compared to a year ago, things are vastly
improved, and that’s got to be down to him.”
Does she ever regret not standing for leadership of the
party in 2001? “I was disappointed that I couldn’t,
but the support simply wasn’t there at Westminster,
despite massive support in the country.” Since resigning
from the shadow front bench, she has hardly been off our
TV screens – or bookshelves. Her first novel The
Clematis Tree was published in 2000 to mixed reviews,
including one from Ruth Rendell that suggested there was
“something of the Sunday afternoon” about
her. She’s also making a splash with her new agony
aunt column in The Guardian. “It does take a rather
bracing attitude,” she admits, “But amazingly,
people have actually said that it’s helped.”
So is Anne considering a return to frontline politics?
Her voice softens for the first time as she confides,
“I’m not saying that I would never, ever go
back, but I have to say bluntly that I don’t expect
an invitation from Mr Howard to be forthcoming.”
More’s the pity; Parliament is a much duller place
with her on the back benches.
An Audience With Ann Widdecombe, Theatre Royal,
4 July, 7.45pm, £15.50. 01273 328488.
FACTFILE
Born: October 1947
Education: Royal Naval School, Singapore
Highest political office: Minister of
State at the Home Office, 1995-1997
Novels: The Clematis Tree (2000), An
Act of Treachery (2002), Father Figure (2005)
Pets: 2 cats – Arbuthnot and Pugwash
II
copyright The Insight
2004
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