{"success":true,"data":{"id":"1774fa79-651f-4f88-9473-83a0e45f5b26","title":"Pugnacious, charismatic and she always answered the question - Chris Mason on Widdecombe","summary":"Image source, Reuters By Political editor Published 10 July 2026, 22:25 BST You can see it in the facial expressions of our political leaders and hear it in the tenor and tone of their voices.","content":"# Pugnacious, charismatic and she always answered the question - Chris Mason on Widdecombe\n\n![Image 1: Reform UK party member Ann Widdecombe gestures on stage at the Britain's Reform UK party's national conference in Birmingham, Britain, September 20, 2024](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/598/cpsprodpb/5f16/live/e7a9db40-7ca6-11f1-ae7a-17343cbf3bfa.png)Image source, Reuters\n\nBy\n\nPolitical editor\n\n*   Published 10 July 2026, 22:25 BST \n\n**You can see it in the facial expressions of our political leaders and hear it in the tenor and tone of their voices.**\n\nPeople across Westminster and beyond are stunned at the news of the murder investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe. The sadness at the loss of a friend to many, magnified by the horror of what we were to later learn about its horrific circumstances.\n\nThe police have said they have \"no information\" to believe it is a \"politically motivated crime.\"\n\nNonetheless, in moments like this those in public life are reminded of their prominence and sense of vulnerability, not least after the murders, in the last decade, of the Labour MP Jo Cox and the Conservative MP Sir David Amess.\n\nAnn Widdecombe was an extraordinary character.\n\nSure, people would have strong views about her strong views, of course – those strongly in agreement and strongly in disagreement.\n\nWhen I presented Any Questions on Radio 4, which alongside the job I do now was the biggest privilege I have ever had professionally, she was one of my favourite panellists.\n\nEvery weekend, in front of a live audience in school halls, village halls, church halls and lecture theatres, I would get a sense of those guests - across the full spectrum of political views - who could connect with an audience; those who could provoke, challenge, engage and occasionally enrage. Those who would compel people in the room to sit up and hold that panellist's gaze.\n\nIn other words, those most skilled in prosecuting what public life in a democracy is all about: being able to articulate, with clarity and conviction, what they stand for.\n\nTo represent the essence of a listener's own worldview, or perhaps the essence of its polar opposite. Few of her words would wash over anyone – they would splash a listener in the face and demand a reaction.\n\nAnn Widdecombe was pugnacious, charismatic, barbed and yes, had a sense of silliness too.\n\nAnd she answered the question. I couldn't, in all honesty, credit every guest with doing that.\n\n![Image 2: Ann Widdecombe giving a television interview near Parliament on June 22, 2009](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/2560/cpsprodpb/ea64/live/985129a0-7ca5-11f1-bc75-67a16fbc54d2.jpg)Image source, Getty Images\n\nImage caption, \n\nAnn Widdecombe being interviewed outside Parliament in June 2009, when she ran for Commons speaker\n\nTo stand for public office and to lead a public life is a noble calling and don't underestimate the courage it takes to hold, in public, views that divide.\n\nIt is the nature of political life that that is inevitable and necessary, and no one is forced to do it. But in an era of anti politics, corrosive cynicism and a social media environment where motive and character are so often instantly maligned, spare a thought on a human level - whether you agree with them or not - for all those willing to stride out onto that noisy, contested, sometimes angry public stage.\n\nAnn Widdecombe revelled in debate, even, perhaps particularly, when articulating positions as a lifelong social conservative that were no longer fashionable to many. There were too her views that wouldn't even curry favour with all those in her own party.\n\nShe was, after all, the author of one of contemporary politics' most withering putdowns, when she described Michael, now Lord Howard as having \"something of the night about him,\" a description so vivid and original he is destined never to entirely escape it.\n\nThe former Conservative leader magnanimously offered the understated reflection that he and her had their \"ups and downs\" - but had made up.\n\nLet's be clear – some of her views were regarded by some as deeply offensive.\n\nOthers cheered what they saw as her uncompromising bravery in maintaining those convictions and saying so publicly. A robust but civilised public debate can respect both of those stances.\n\nAnn Widdecombe was sharp but warm. Serious but self deprecating. Kind but fearsome.\n\nIt is for you as a reader to come to your own view about her views.\n\nWhat I can tell you is that plenty who knew her, whether they agreed with her or not, found her immensely likeable.\n\n## Related topics\n\n## More on this story\n\n    \n\n    *   Published 1 hour ago \n\n    \n\n    \n\n    *   Published 4 hours ago \n\n## The video playlist\n\nWatch our pick of standout clips from across the BBC\n\nPrevious Next\n\n*   0:33 Suspect in custody in Widdecombe murder investigation. 00:00:33, play video Suspect in custody in Widdecombe murder investigation![Image 6: A forensics van and police car](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/648d/live/f9862b40-7c9f-11f1-bee8-53ce494e1abc.png) \n*   1:00 Spain: At the scene of firefighters tackling wildfires. 00:01:00, play video Spain: At the scene of firefighters tackling wildfires![Image 7: A plane flying over a burning fire and dropping water](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/18d4/live/3ead9060-7c86-11f1-b976-0b9c15b0ccfc.jpg) \n*   0:51 Pioneering treatment saves twins in early pregnancy. 00:00:51, play video Pioneering treatment saves twins in early pregnancy![Image 8: Two four year old girls laughing on a swing](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/34f8/live/22c87030-7c82-11f1-bee8-53ce494e1abc.jpg) \n*   1:23 I was spiked by injection on a girls' holiday. 00:01:23, play video I was spiked by injection on a girls' holiday![Image 9: A young woman with a short skin fade and her hair scraped back from her face looks at someone off-camera](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/45dd/live/be6f4270-7c4b-11f1-bee8-53ce494e1abc.jpg) \n*   0:48 Haaland and Bellingham to bring bromance to quarter final. 00:00:48, play video Haaland and Bellingham to bring bromance to quarter final![Image 10: Haaland and Bellingham embrace after a Champions League match](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/44ca/live/b5e40b90-7c82-11f1-bee8-53ce494e1abc.jpg) \n*   0:34 Flames engulf the Spanish countryside. 00:00:34, play video Flames engulf the Spanish countryside![Image 11: Wildfire with towering flames and dark smoke near a road](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/f425/live/69232860-7c6c-11f1-bee8-53ce494e1abc.jpg) \n*   1:23 Bayeux Tapestry arrives in London. 00:01:23, play video Bayeux Tapestry arrives in London![Image 12: A close-up shot of the tapestry showing a man on a horse](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/42e1/live/d8714bc0-7c44-11f1-bee8-53ce494e1abc.jpg) \n*   0:51 Why is Meghan not with Prince Harry in Birmingham? 00:00:51, play video Why is Meghan not with Prince Harry in Birmingham?![Image 13: A woman with long dark hair and a green top.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/df33/live/0805e5c0-7c78-11f1-926f-c90d1bcfbc84.jpg) \n*   1:29 Cowboy hats & corners: The World Cup goes Texan. 00:01:29, play video Cowboy hats & corners: The World Cup goes Texan![Image 14: Man in cowboy hat and 'Y'All Can Kiss My Dallas' shirt in front of shelves of cowboy hats](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/20f2/live/48813e40-7c7a-11f1-926f-c90d1bcfbc84.jpg) \n*   1:04 Should parents apply for jobs for their kids? 00:01:04, play video Should parents apply for jobs for their kids?![Image 15: A woman with light brown hair stands in front of a bar](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/c6a5/live/82d7a130-7c55-11f1-b303-b781e40f7a76.jpg) \n*   1:07 What links a bomb in Monaco and a shooting in Ukraine? 00:01:07, play video What links a bomb in Monaco and a shooting in Ukraine?![Image 16: A masked man with a hood up](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/0b97/live/548f5980-7c73-11f1-b976-0b9c15b0ccfc.png) \n*   1:12 Women suffer more in the heat, here's why. 00:01:12, play video Women suffer more in the heat, here's why![Image 17: A woman reclines on a sofa next to a fan and with a bottle of water pressed to her forehead](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/400/cpsprodpb/a512/live/e0582360-7bac-11f1-9510-1546718f668b.jpg) \n*   0:34 Reaction when Florida airport is renamed after Trump. 00:00:34, play video Reaction when Florida airport is renamed after Trump![Image 18: Workers installing a 'Welcome to President Donald J. 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