Ann Widdecombe
Ann Widdecombe was born on 4 October 1947 in Bath.
Widdecombe was educated at Royal Naval School, Singapore; La Sainte Union convent, Bath; Birmingham University; and Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford.
Ann Widdecombe had a two year stint in the marketing department of Unilever, before becoming an administrator at London University (1975-87).
In 1987, Ann Widdecombe became Conservative MP for Maidstone and thereafter became a highly assiduous voter and attender at the Commons.
A devout Christian, Ann Widdecombe has often championed anti-abortion causes in parliament.
Amongst her government positions were Minister for Employment 1994/5 and Minister for the Home Office 1995-1997 when Michael Howard was Home Secretary. Ann Widdecombe famously commented that Howard had 'something of the night' about him.
Ann Widdecombe's books include a novel The Clematis Tree (2000); and her hobbies include researching Charles II's escape.
The Guardian in 2004 commissioned Ann Widdecombe to write an advice column entitled Buck Up! This led to her presenting for the BBC, Ann Widdecombe to the Rescue.
Her other TV appearances included Grumpy Old Women, When Louis met Ann Widdecombe and Celebrity Fit Club.
In August 2007, Ann Widdecombe presented a three-part series on ITV, entitled Ann Widdecombe Versus Prostitution.
In October 2007, Ann Widdecombe confirmed that she would not be standing for re-election in the next general election.