Ann Widdecombe proved she could lock horns with anyone in the House of Commons, but when an unexpected opportunity came up to embrace the world of ballroom dancing she was happy to let herself be pushed or pulled around.
The former minister became a familiar face on TV screens after leaving the Commons, not least during her stint on Strictly Come Dancing when partner Anton Du Beke regularly dragged her onto the floor, sometimes literally.
Few would have seen her potential on the dancefloor when she became a well-recognised figure in Tory governments, often enduring mockery but always sticking to her guns – she was often targeted for her appearance and her single status.
The Oxford graduate was a strong performer at the despatch box, often coming across as strict although she was a strong campaigner for animal rights and a prisons minister who took her responsibilities seriously, making 129 visits to jails during her two years in the job.
She fell out with her boss, then home secretary Michael Howard, while in that role, saying he had “something of the night” about him.
In 1993 she left the Anglican church to become a Catholic, reportedly after disagreeing with the decision to allow women priests, while later in her career she became a passionate Leave advocate in the Brexit debate.
She displayed a tour de force on Strictly, where she followed the likes of John Sergeant into throwing herself into the role rather than trying to perfect the footwork.
She also remained active politically, supporting Reform UK after becoming disenchanted with the Conservatives for whom she had continued to campaign on the doorstep.
She eventually left the Tories for the Brexit Party which she represented as an MEP before ties were severed with the EU and later linked up with Reform UK.
