Editing Ann Widdecombe (section)

==Controversies==

In 2009, she partially defended [[Carol Thatcher]]'s use of the racial slur '[[golliwog]]' on ''[[Any Questions?]]'', saying: "There is a generation to whom a golliwog is merely a toy, a generation which was much endeared by its golliwogs which grew up [[Robertson's#Golly branding|with them on jam jars]] ... and there is a generation, a new generation for whom that word is deeply offensive and one does have to make I think some allowance for the fact."<ref>{{cite news |title=Transcript: Any Questions? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/anyquestions_transcripts_20090206.shtml |access-date=19 October 2020 |work=BBC Radio 4 |date=9 February 2009}}</ref> In December 2019, [[WhatsApp]] conversations between her and Brexit Party activists were leaked to the ''[[Plymouth Herald]]'' which showed Widdecombe using the term amid rumours party campaign funding was being diverted away from Plymouth ahead of the general election of that year. Widdecombe said: "Yes, I [[:wikt:throw one's toys out of the pram|threw all my toys of the pram]]. Bears and gollywogs flying everywhere!!"<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Leary |first1=Miles |title=Ann Widdecombe accused of 'racist comments' in Brexit Party Whatsapp group |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/ann-widdecombe-accused-racist-comments-3628950 |access-date=19 October 2020 |work=PlymouthLive |date=10 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Devlin |first1=Kate |title=Ann Widdecombe in race row after leaked WhatsApp conversation |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/ann-widdecombe-in-race-row-after-leaked-whatsapp-conversation-mx5ktlzrr |access-date=19 October 2020 |work=The Times |date=11 December 2019}}</ref>

In 2019 Widdecombe defended the comments she made in a 2012 article that supported "gay conversion" therapy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.express.co.uk/comment/columnists/ann-widdecombe/299271/Helping-those-who-aren-t-glad-to-be-gay|title=Helping those who aren't glad to be gay|date=1 February 2012|work=Daily Mirror|access-date=2 June 2019|location=UK}}</ref> She told [[Sky News]] that science may yet "provide an answer" to the question of whether people can "switch sexuality".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/ann-widdecombe-science-may-produce-an-answer-to-homosexuality-11733559|title=Ann Widdecombe: Science may 'produce an answer' to homosexuality|date=2 June 2019|work=Sky News|access-date=2 June 2019|location=UK}}</ref> Following Widdecombe's apparent endorsement of conversion therapy, at least one venue, the Landmark theatre in [[Ilfracombe]], [[Devon]], cancelled a performance of her one-woman show.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/05/ann-widdecombe-one-woman-show-pulled-after-gay-therapy-remark|title=Ann Widdecombe one-woman show pulled after gay therapy remark|last=Weaver|first=Matthew|date=5 June 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=5 June 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

Widdecombe and two other Brexit Party figures were criticised for previous appearances on the [[David Icke]]-affiliated ''[[Richie Allen Show]]'', which has been accused of promoting [[Holocaust denial]] and [[antisemitic conspiracy theories]] about the [[Rothschild family]] and [[Zionism]]. Widdecombe appeared three times between August 2017 and April 2019 and was described as an "old friend of the show" by the host during one appearance.<ref>Erich, Ben (18 August 2019). [https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/brexit-party-meps-ann-widdecombe-richie-allen-show-david-icke-antisemitic-conspiracy-theories-1.487594 "Brexit Party figures 'appeared on show which promoted Holocaust denial'"]. ''The Jewish Chronicle''.</ref><ref name="Cohen1">{{cite news |last1=Cohen |first1=Ben |title=Leading Brexit Party figures in UK exposed as contributors to radio show pushing Holocaust denial |url=https://www.algemeiner.com/2019/08/19/leading-brexit-party-figures-in-uk-exposed-as-contributors-to-radio-show-pushing-holocaust-denial/ |access-date=22 August 2019 |work=The Algemeiner |date=19 August 2019}}</ref> Widdecombe told ''[[Jewish Chronicle]]'' that she agreed to appear to discuss Brexit, and that she "had never heard of the ''Richie Allen Show'' until I agreed to go on" and distanced herself from its antisemitic content by, among other things, pointing to her membership of the [[Conservative Friends of Israel]], [[B'nai B'rith]] event speeches, and her novel ''An Act of Treachery'', which she said is set during [[the Holocaust]].<ref name="Weich1">{{cite news |last1=Weich |first1=Ben |title=Ann Widdecombe defends appearances on 'antisemitic' radio stations |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/ann-widdecombe-defends-appearance-radio-antisemitic-conspiracy-theories-theory-richie-allen-brexit-1.487725 |access-date=22 August 2019 |work=The Jewish Chronicle |date=22 August 2019}}</ref>

Widdecombe was elected as a [[Member of the European Parliament]] for the Brexit Party on 23 May 2019 in the [[2019 European Parliament election|European elections]]. On 3 July 2019 she used her maiden speech in Strasbourg to compare Brexit to slaves revolting against their owners and to a colonised country rising up against occupying forces, a stance which was criticised by members of both the European Parliament and the British House of Commons.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/video-anne-widdecombe-says-brexitu-ilike-slaves-rising-up-against-owners-2019-7|title=Brexit Party's Ann Widdecombe condemned for 'disgraceful' remarks comparing the EU to slave owners|last1=Payne|first1=Adam|last2=Colson|first2=Thomas|website=Business Insider|access-date=4 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/video-anne-widdecombe-says-brexitu-ilike-slaves-rising-up-against-owners-2019-7|title=Brexit Party's Ann Widdecombe condemned for 'disgraceful' remarks comparing the EU to slave owners|last1=Payne|first1=Adam|last2=Colson|first2=Thomas|website=Telegraph|access-date=20 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/07/04/ann-widdecombe-compares-eu-slave-owners-maiden-european-parliament/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/07/04/ann-widdecombe-compares-eu-slave-owners-maiden-european-parliament/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=     News Politics Ann Widdecombe compares EU to slave owners in maiden European Parliament speech |last1=Crisp|first1=James|date=4 July 2019|website=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|access-date=4 July 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-48869520|title=Widdecombe's slavery remarks 'disgusting'|last1=Scott|first1=Jennifer|date=4 July 2019|publisher=BBC|access-date=4 July 2019}}</ref>