Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe MP

MP for Maidstone & Weald

Biography

Ann was born in October 1947 and was educated at the Royal Naval School, Singapore, La Sainte Union Convent, Bath, Birmingham University and Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. She has Honours Degrees in Latin and in Politics and Economics and has an MA from Oxford University.

Experience

From 1976 to 1978, Ann was a Runnymede District Councillor. She contested Burnley at the 1979 General Election and fought Dr David Owen at Devonport in 1983 before being selected to succeed Sir John Wells as the Member for Maidstone. She was elected Member of Parliament for Maidstone at the 1987 General Election.

Ann Widdecombe has also served on the Select Committee for Social Services (appointed in 1988); and she has sponsored several Bills on such topics as School Bus Passes, Regional Health Authorities, Abortion and Compensation. From November 1990 until May 1993, she was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Social Security

In May 1993, Ann was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Employment. She was Minister of State at the Department of Employment from July 1994 until July 1995 and in July 1995 she was appointed Minister of State at the Home Office, a position she held until 1997.

In May 1997, Ann was elected Member of Parliament for the new seat of Maidstone and The Weald. In July 1997, she was appointed to the Standards and Privileges House of Commons Select Committee.

She was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Health in June 1998. From June 1999 to September 2001, she was Shadow Home Secretary.

Contact Details

Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA

Tel: 01622 752463
Fax: 01622 764427
Web: http://www.annwiddecombemp.com
Constituency Web: http://freespace.virgin.net/mwca.maidstone/
Email: widdecombea@parliament.uk

Record Last Updated: 9-Jan-2006