The Reform UK member enjoyed a decades-long career in the limelight of British politics - though also won plaudits on Strictly Come Dancing
Ann Widdecombe, the former MP, MEP and champion of Brexit, has died aged 78.
Ms Widdecombe was an outspoken backer of leaving the EU - serving as a Member of the European Parliament for the Brexit Party.
She served as a Tory MP for over two decades before leaving the Commons in 2010.
She returned to politics nearly a decade later, leaving her mark on the EU for Nigel Farage's Reform UK precursor - and later would represent Reform as its immigration and justice spokeswoman.
The prominent Eurosceptic served in a number of cabinet positions in Conservative Governments throughout her time in Parliament as the MP for Maidstone, later Maidstone and The Weald.
From 1994 to 1995 she was the Employment Minister, next serving as the Prisons Minister from 1995 to 1997 under John Major.
She would later serve as Shadow Health Secretary and Shadow Home Secretary, from 1998 to 1999 and 1999 to 2001, respectively.
Ms Widdecombe also gained notoriety outside Westminster for her time on Strictly Come Dancing, where she was partnered with Anton du Beke, winning the support of viewers if not the competition itself.
After leaving Parliament she appeared as a stage actor in pantomimes such as Aladdin and Snow White, and participated on Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.
A respected author, she also wrote a weekly column for GB News - most recently penning a piece about Andy Burnham just last week.
News of Ms Widdecombe's death emerged via her representative early on Friday morning.
But already, many have paid tribute to a leading figure on the right of British politics, with Britons hailing her as a "great lady", a "rare character", and a "towering legend".
