Nigel Farage has led emotional tributes to Ann Widdecombe at the Reform UK party conference, declaring: “Someone is missing.”
Addressing the NEC in Birmingham, the Reform leader spoke about the party’s late justice spokeswoman.
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“Someone is missing. The irrepressible, unique, totally extraordinary Ann Widdecombe is missing,” Mr Farage began.
Reflecting on her career, he described Ms Widdecombe as the “best-known female politician in Britain since Margaret Thatcher”.
“Ann Widdecombe didn’t need all the hue and wisdom, didn’t need notes”, he said.
“She took to the stage with the microphone, and she bashed out the message. She said things not to court short-term popularity. She said things that she believed truly and deeply in her heart.”
Mr Farage described her as a “trusted, loyal colleague” and said she was great fun outside Westminster.
“Even when you had your disagreements with Ann, every conversation always ended on a good note.
“She was somebody who was loved by millions but respected by many millions more.”
Mr Farage recalled how their political relationship began in 2019, when Miss Widdecombe contacted him after he launched the Brexit Party to contest the European elections.
“She said she wanted to stand as a candidate for us in those European elections,” he said.
Mr Farage described her opening speech in the European Parliament as something he did not think its members had “ever seen”.
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He also paid tribute to Miss Widdecombe’s character outside politics, highlighting her appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, her novels, and her theatre tours.
“Whilst she wasn’t the best dancer that’s ever appeared on the show, it showed an ability to laugh at herself,” he said.
The Reform leader also reflected on travelling to Dartmoor to lay a wreath following Miss Widdecombe’s death.
“I was doing it for the millions around the country who loved and respected her,” he said.
He admitted that the circumstances of her death remained difficult to comprehend.
“It is still difficult to get into our heads the sheer brutality of the way that she died,” he said.
“It is still the most tremendous shock.”
Mr Farage concluded his tribute by saying: “May God bless her soul.”
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