Former Tory MP and Celebrity Big Brother contestant extraordinaire Ann Widdecombe has joined Nigel Farage's Brexit Party, and people really don't know what to think.
In a somewhat unexpected move, Brexit Party leader and former Ukipper Nigel Farage confirmed Ms Widdecombe had joined the party in a tweet on Wednesday morning, saying she will be the party's lead candidate in the South West:
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.
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.— Nigel Farage (@Nigel Farage) 1556085443
Ms Widdecombe, 71, was the Conservative MP for Maidstone, and then Maidstone and The Weald, from 1987 to 2010 before she retired from politics, reports the Evening Standard.
Some people welcomed her candidacy.
@Nigel_Farage A woman of substance and a brilliant candidate.. excellent news 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻— June@41 (@June@41) 1556086693
Others worried about her dancing abilities.
Great candidate as long as there's no dancing 😂 https://t.co/jGTKjnuJfT— John (@John) 1556091025
It's all a little bit weird though, isn't it, let's be honest.
But, you've gotta face it, who have Labour and the Tories managed to pull out of the bag?
Erm... what a line-up!?
Nigel Farage, George Galloway, Ann Widdecombe: truly the Brexit Party are spoiling us— Jonathan Freedland (@Jonathan Freedland) 1556091132
It's basically a Channel 5 reality show reveal.
Ann Widdecombe's standing for the Brexit Party now. It's like when Channel 5 reveal who's in their latest reality s… https://t.co/f6gOZsqvo0— Mark Steel (@Mark Steel) 1556087368
Cor blimey, the South West, you've really got an amazing line up of candidates to choose from now, haven't you?
the lucky voters of the South West now have the choice between Andrew Adonis, Sargon of Akkad, Rachel Johnson, the… https://t.co/TGtMMMmVwh— Tom Harwood (@Tom Harwood) 1556089863
It's all very 'down with the kids', isn't it?
Nigel Farage: "I could take the Brexit party from good polling figures to dead in a year." Ann Widdecombe: "Hold m… https://t.co/4f3vTJbchc— Will Black (@Will Black) 1556087721
Not now, not like this...
Please not Ann Widdecombe? Not now. Not this way...— The Poke (@The Poke) 1556090773
Speaking to the Daily Express about her appointment, Ms Widdecome said:
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.
If I am elected in Brussels my message to [Jean-Claude] Juncker and company will be very simple, very loud and very clear. Nous allons [we go].
While she was an MP, Ms Widdecombe was known for her opposition to legalising abortion and her opposition to LGBT+ rights, including equalising the age of consent and repealing Section 28. She also voted for the reintroduction of the death penalty, and the retention of blasphemy laws.
Just to top it off, in the South West she'll be running against Andrew Adonis, Sargon of Akkad aka Carl Benjamin, and Molly Scott Cato.
Enjoy, guys!
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