IMPORTANT: Ann Widdecombe was a Candidate for Speaker.
mySociety asked likely candidates for the post of Speaker to endorse the following principles.
The three principles are:
- Voters have the right to know in detail about the money that is spent to support MPs and run Parliament, and in similar detail how the decisions to spend that money are settled upon.
- Bills being considered must be published online in a much better way than they are now, as the Free Our Bills campaign has been suggesting for some time.
- The Internet is not a threat to a renewal in our democracy, it is one of its best hopes. Parliament should appoint a senior officer with direct working experience of the power of the Internet who reports directly to the Speaker, and who will help Parliament adapt to a new era of transparency and effectiveness.
We contacted Ann Widdecombe MP to ask for an endorsement 39 days ago. They have not yet replied.
This data was produced by TheyWorkForYou from a variety of sources.
Ann Widdecombe
Conservative MP for Maidstone & The Weald
- Also represented Maidstone
- Entered Parliament on 11 June 1987 — General election
- Majority: 14,856 votes. — 113th out of 643 MPs.
- Send a message to your MP (via WriteToThem.com)
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- Email me whenever Ann Widdecombe speaks (no more than once per day)
- Help us add video by matching a speech by Ann Widdecombe
- Voting record
- Committees and topics of interest
- Most recent appearances
- Numerology
- Register of Members’ Interests
- Expenses
- Early Day Motions signed by this MP (From edmi.parliament.uk)
Voting record (from PublicWhip)
How Ann Widdecombe voted on key issues since 2001:
- Voted moderately against a transparent Parliament. votes, speeches
- Voted moderately against introducing a smoking ban. votes, speeches
- Voted a mixture of for and against introducing ID cards. votes, speeches
- Voted moderately against introducing foundation hospitals. votes, speeches
- Voted strongly against introducing student top-up fees. votes, speeches
- Voted moderately against Labour's anti-terrorism laws. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly for the Iraq war. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly for an investigation into the Iraq war. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly for replacing Trident. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly for the hunting ban. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly against equal gay rights. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly against laws to stop climate change. votes, speeches
Read about how the voting record is decided.
More on well-known issues (from the Guardian) & their full record
- Sometimes rebels against their party in this parliament.
Committees and topics of interest
Asks most questions about
- Departments: Home Department, Health, Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Education and Skills, Transport
- Subjects (based on headings added by Hansard): Asylum Seekers, Gurkhas, Correspondence, Home Detention Curfew Scheme, Prisons
(based on written questions asked by Ann Widdecombe and answered by departments)
Public Bill Committees (sittings attended)
- Chairman, Aviation (Offences) Bill Committee (1 out of n/a)
- Chairman, Office of Communications Bill Committee (3 out of n/a)
- Chairman, Travel Concessions (Eligibility) Bill Committee (1 out of n/a)
- Chairman, Police Reform Bill Committee (3 out of n/a)
- Chairman, NHS Reform and Health Care Professions Bill Committee (3 out of n/a)
Most recent appearances
- Business of the House (25 Jun 2009)
“Will the Leader of the House make time within the parliamentary timetable to revisit the recently imposed abolition of the de minimis rules in the Register of Members' Interests? I have been told in all solemnity by the registrar today that in future every bunch of flowers will have to be registered. I suggest to the right hon. and learned Lady that that will result in not only my entry in...”
- Election of Speaker (22 Jun 2009)
“Mr. Williams, I think I am unique in this contest. [Hon. Members: "Hear, hear!"] What is unique is that I propose myself as an interim Speaker, rather than as a permanent or long-term appointee. The reason I do that is that I have become convinced that what we need, between now and the next election—after the next election will be too late—is the restoration of the reputation of...”
More of Ann Widdecombe's recent appearances
Numerology
Please note that numbers do not measure quality. Also, representatives may do other things not currently covered by this site. (More about this)
- Has spoken in 12 debates in the last year — below average amongst MPs.
- Has received answers to 3 written questions in the last year — below average amongst MPs.
- Is a member of 0 select committees (0 as chair).
- Replied within 2 or 3 weeks to a medium number of messages sent via WriteToThem.com during 2007, according to constituents.
- Has voted in 48% of votes in parliament with this affiliation — well below average amongst MPs. (From Public Whip)
- People have made 14 annotations on this MP’s speeches — above average amongst MPs.
- This MP's speeches, in Hansard, are readable by an average 18–19 year old, going by the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score.
- 112 people are tracking whenever this MP speaks — email me whenever Ann Widdecombe speaks.
- Has used three-word alliterative phrases (e.g. "she sells seashells") 870 times in debates — well above average amongst MPs. (Why is this here?)
Register of Members' Interests
1. Remunerated directorships
Merry Monks Editions Limited; import and sale of gift items.
2. Remunerated employment, office, profession etc
Advance of £100,000 plus performance bonuses from Weidenfeld & Nicholson for third and fourth books.
Series of lectures at theatres around the country, booked through Clive Conway Associates. (£15,001-£20,000)
Daily Express columnist. (£50,001-£55,000)
Payment for Daily Telegraph Podcast (from 9 January 2008). (£5,001-£10,000)
Payment from Channel 4 for appearance in a documentary on Christianity. (£10,001-£15,000) (Registered 30 June 2008)
Three speaking engagements, via Women Speakers; 16 February 2008 for the Warrant Officers Mess, HMS Sultan, 21 and 22 June 2008 for Strathcarron Hospice. (£5,001-£10,000) (Registered 30 June 2008)
Speaking engagement via Gordon Poole; 28 June 2008 for Hadley Holding Company. (Up to £5,000) (Registered 30 June 2008)
Payment from BBC for appearance on The One Show. (Up to £5,000) (Registered 30 June 2008)
Payment from RTE for appearance on a chat show in April 2008. (Up to £5,000) (Registered 14 July 2008)
Payment for appearance on ITV1's Daily Cooks Challenge. (Up to £5,000) (Registered 23 October 2008)
Payment for appearance at the Cheltenham Literary Festival. (Up to £5,000) (Registered 23 October 2008)
Payment for an article in Daily Express. (Up to £5,000) (Registered 23 October 2008)
Speaking engagement via Gordon Poole Agency Ltd on behalf of NPIA (National Policing Improvement Agency) on 1 December 2008. (Up to £5,000) (Registered 8 December 2008)
Speaking engagement for Three Counties Ladies Luncheon Club on 22 January 2009. (Up to £5,000) (Registered 23 January 2009)
Speaking engagement via Gordon Poole Agency for Forum for the Built Environment on 27 March 2009. (Up to £5,000) (Registered 30 March 2009)
3 April 2009, speaking engagement via Gordon Poole Agency for Chartered Institute of Housing. (Up to £5,000) (Registered 7 April 2009)
22 April 2009, speaking engagement via Gordon Poole Agency for the Association of Inner Wheel Clubs. (Up to £5,000) (Registered 24 April 2009)
29 April 2009, speaking engagement via Gordon Poole Agency for the Chemical Business Association. (Up to £5,000) (Registered 29 May 2009)
6 May 2009, speaking engagement via Gordon Poole Agency for the Institute of Directors Norfolk Branch. (Up to £5,000) (Registered 29 May 2009)
4 June 2009, speaking engagement on behalf of JLA for the Centre for Sheltered/Supporting Housing Studies. (Up to £5,000) (Registered 8 June 2009)
4. Sponsorship or financial or material support
Provision of a student as political researcher by Hull University Politics Course for the duration of the academic year starting September 2008.
9. Registrable shareholdings
(a) Merry Monks Editions Limited.
Register last updated: 24 Jun 2009. More about the Register
View the history of this MP's entries in the Register
Expenses
Figures in brackets are ranks. Data from parliament.uk (source). Read 2004/05 – 2007/08 receipts.
| Type | 2007/08 (ranking out of 645) | 2006/07 (ranking out of 645) | 2005/06 | 2004/05 (ranking out of 659) | 2003/04 (ranking out of 658) | 2002/03 (ranking out of 657) | 2001/02 (ranking out of 657) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Additional Costs Allowance | £858 (585th) | £401 (589th) | £2,593 | £9,206 (576th) | £9,139 (577th) | £10,139 (587th) | £10,320 (560th) |
| London Supplement | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Incidental Expenses Provision | £20,957 (180th) | £19,231 (419th) | £17,938 | £19,296 (joint 146th) | £18,799 (joint 13th) | £18,229 (joint 208th) | £14,149 (374th) |
| Staffing Allowance | £87,456 (333rd) | £84,763 (303rd) | £82,561 | £72,275 (joint 242nd) | £68,977 (209th) | £68,904 (127th) | £49,047 (213th) |
| Communications Allowance | £0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Members' Travel | £1,634 (596th)* | £1,507 (604th)** | £2,270 | £2,164 (616th) | £2,672 (599th) | £2,674 (596th) | £2,041 (596th) |
| Members' Staff Travel | £25 (422nd) | £86 (382nd) | £181 | £225 (356th) | £44 (459th) | £0 | £0 |
| Members' Spouse Travel | £0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Members' Family Travel | £0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Centrally Purchased Stationery | £465 (joint 511th) | £788 (joint 367th) | £1,412 | £1,146 (249th) | £1,244 (171st) | £2,205 (60th) | £1,332 (214th) |
| Stationery: Associated Postage Costs | £903 (576th) | £1,503 (498th) | £4,608 | £3,093 (260th) | £5,002 (118th) | N/A | N/A |
| Centrally Provided Computer Equipment | £1,000 (joint 578th) | £793 (joint 601st) | £793 | £1,420 (joint 594th) | £1,420 (joint 583rd) | £1,420 (joint 568th) | £1,420 (497th) |
| Other Costs | £2,430 (49th) | £2,170 (43rd) | £0 | £2,992 (57th) | £8,078 (12th) | £0 | £0 |
| Total | £115,728 (614th) | £111,242 (602nd) | £112,356 | £111,817 (526th) | £115,375 (406th) | £103,571 (505th) | £78,309 (508th) |
* Regular journeys between home/constituency/Westminster: Mileage £1,429 (473rd). Rail £205 (537th).