Ann Widdecombe to stand down
Monday, 08 Oct 2007 15:42
Ann Widdecombe was elected as an MP in 1987
The outspoken and colourful Conservative politician Ann Widdecombe has announced that she is to step down as an MP at the next election.
Ms Widdecombe, who is MP for Maidstone and the Weald, had already said she would not seek re-election if parliament were to serve a full-term.
With the prime minister Gordon Brown ruling out a snap election yesterday, the 60-year-old confirmed that she would not be standing again.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have made the last 20 years so rewarding and especially the officers and members of Maidstone Conservative Association," she said in a statement.
In 1987 Ms Widdecombe, who once famously said fellow Tory politician Michael Howard had "something of the night about him", was elected as MP for Maidstone, which became Maidstone and the Weald in 1997.
While the Conservatives were in government Ms Widdecombe held ministerial positions in the Department of Employment and the Home Office.
Following Labour's general election victory in 1997 the Somerset-born politician was shadow health secretary and then shadow home secretary.
In 2001 she announced her decision to retire from the shadow front bench at the same time as deciding not to stand for the leadership of the party.
As well as her political career, Ms Widdecombe has also had success as a writer, with four novels published, and appeared on the television show Celebrity Fit Club.