Ann Widdecombe, 71, sensationally quits the Tories and defects to Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party
The ex-minister, 71, has been a member of the Conservative party for 55 years
ANN Widdecombe, 71 has sensationally quit the Tories and defected to Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party.
The ex-minister has been a member of the Conservative party for 55 years, but she has put her retirement on hold to “campaign vigorously” for the European elections.
It will be a return to frontline politics for the Tory grandee, who served as the shadow home secretary from 1999 to 2001 after being John Major’s Prisons Minister.
Ms Widdecombe is now joining Farage’s fledgling party on a mandate to hurry up and get Britain out of the EU.
“The public needs to send a very clear message and that is we expect the vote to be respected so just get on with the job of getting us out of the EU,” she told the Express.
“If I am elected in Brussels my message to Juncker and company will be very simple, very loud and very clear. Nous allons (we go).”
And she told Good Morning Britain: “I’m on a mission.”
She is set to contest the South West region in the upcoming European elections, which will take place next month.
Ms Widdecombe was earlier rumoured to be considering leaving the party after she campaigned hard for Brexit.
She was appalled by the failure to deliver on the Article 50 commitment to leave on March 29.
Earlier this month Ms Widdecombe branded Theresa May the worst Prime Minister since Anthony Eden.
Mr Farage hailed his new recruit, saying: “I welcome Ann Widdecombe as our lead candidate in the South West, the Brexit Party is a stronger alliance as a result. This is great news.”
BREXIT PARTY’S LINE-UP
Ms Widdecombe’s move comes days after Jacob Rees-Mogg’s sister Annunziata quit the Tories to join the Brexit party.
The top Brexiteer’s sibling, 40, caused a family split by joining ranks with Mr Farage’s new venture.
She was unveiled as a surprise candidate for the party which is on track to cause a Tory bloodbath at the polls next month.
Mr Farage has also unveiled a Special Forces veteran, an ex-Communist and a smoked salmon producer as Brexit party candidates to stand in the upcoming election.
Ahead of polls next month he vowed to target Labour heartlands who were furious that our EU exit still hasn’t been delivered.
Other candidates included former member of the Revolutionary Community Party, Claire Fox.
And ex-nurse Christina Jordan and smoke salmon producer Lance Foreman are also running.
