The former Brexit Party MEP made a passionate speech to the EU Parliament in 2019 where she likened the UK’s departure to the emancipation of slaves.
Widdecombe made a powerful Brexit speech in 2019 (Image: Getty)
Brexit champion and former MP Ann Widdecombe has passed away at the age of 78. As well as serving as the Conservative MP for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years, Widdecombe was elected to the European Parliament in 2019 for the Brexit Party.
She delivered a passionate maiden speech in the Parliament on July 4, 2019. With her leader at the time, Nigel Farage, sitting on her right, the Brexit Party MEP said negotiations between the EU’s heads of Government over the leadership of the bloc’s institutions confirmed that Britain should leave. She also likened the UK’s departure to the emancipation of slaves.
In the speech to the EU Parliament, she said: “May I say, that if I need any convincing at all, that the best thing for Britain is to leave here as soon as possible. It was the way that those elections were held conducted yesterday because if that is this place’s idea of democracy, then that is a serious betrayal of every country that is represented here.
“Because it is not democratic at all. And that is just one of many reasons why Britain is right to be leaving this place, hopefully on Halloween.”
She also compared Brexit to slaves rising up against their owners and colonies breaking free from empires. Widdecombe also complained about EU fishing policies in the speech.
She explained: “There is a pattern consistent throughout history of oppressed people turning on their oppressors, slaves against their owners, the peasantry against the feudal barons, colonies against empires, and that is why Britain is leaving … It doesn’t matter which language you use, we are leaving and we are pleased to be going. Nous allons [sic], wir gehen, we are off!”
Nigel Farage has led the tributes to his former colleague (Image: Getty)
Following the speech, Alexandra Phillips, who was the Brexit Party’s MEP for the South East, said Widdecombe “represents the ignored majority”. She added: “Brave and principled. Our Ann.”
More recently, Widdecombe backed Reform UK in 2023 and served as the party’s justice and immigration adviser. Parter leader Nigel Farage has today paid tribute to his former colleague, dubbing her a “political colossus”.
He told the Daily Express: “Ann Widdecombe was a political colossus whose forthright honesty is all too rare in today’s politics.
“When Ann decided to stand for The Brexit Party in the snap 2019 European Elections, it was a big moment and huge boost. The voters loved her. She played a decisive role in getting Brexit over the line.
“Ann will be missed.”