I had the pleasure of working with Ann Widdecombe on several occasions, and every time I came away liking her more. I began my career as a showbiz journalist before making the jump into politics - or, as one editor memorably described it, "showbusiness for ugly people." Joining the then newly launched TalkTV was a baptism of fire. As someone from the old Labour tradition, I was often paired with stalwart Conservatives for lively debates. Ann Widdecombe was one of them.
The producers were expecting fireworks. Instead, they got something rather less fashionable: two people who disagreed on some of the biggest issues of the day, but actually listened to one another. We certainly had our differences - Brexit being the obvious one - yet we always disagreed agreeably. More often than not, our conversations drifted away from the day's political rows and towards a shared lament that politics had lost something. We both felt there was a time when politicians were more interested in governing well than chasing social media clips or delivering the perfect soundbite.
That was one of Ann's greatest strengths. She said what she believed, whether it was popular or not. You always knew where you stood with her. In an age of carefully managed politicians who speak in rehearsed platitudes, Ann remained refreshingly authentic.
Off camera, she was nothing like the stern caricature many people imagined. She was warm, intelligent, witty and genuinely funny. By the fourth time we worked together, she would greet me with a hug and immediately ask after my son. Those small acts of kindness tell you far more about a person than any television debate ever could.
We also shared something much deeper than politics: our Roman Catholic faith. We spent many hours discussing Christianity, the direction of the modern Church and the challenges facing people of faith today. We didn't always agree on every theological point, but our conversations were thoughtful, respectful and always rooted in a shared devotion to Christ.
The Ann Widdecombe many people knew was the formidable parliamentarian, the uncompromising columnist and the fearless television debater. The Ann I knew was also charming, eloquent, exceptionally bright and generous with her time. She possessed that increasingly rare quality of being able to argue passionately without ever making disagreement personal.
Politics could do with a few more Ann Widdecombes.
