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Ann Widdecombe
Conservative MP for Maidstone & The Weald
- Also represented Maidstone
- Entered Parliament on 11 June 1987 — General election
- Standing down at the next election
- Majority: 14,856 votes. — 114th out of 643 MPs.
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- Voting record
- Committees and topics of interest
- Most recent appearances
- Numerology
- Register of Members’ Interests
- Expenses
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 moderately 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, 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)
- Chairman, Office of Communications Bill Committee (3 out of n/a)
Most recent appearances
- Written Answers — Transport: Railways: Kent (7 Dec 2009)
“To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when he expects to make a decision on the future of the City Service from Ashford International via Maidstone East station.”
- Deferred divisions: Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (2 Dec 2009) has video
“We are witnessing is a very sad exhibition of very unworthy tactics. Unfortunately, all this will do is to compound the reputation that we already have of being in a muddle, and of being untrustworthy in how we handle this wider issue. A motion, of which we all had due notice, was on the Order Paper, and you, Mr. Speaker, had selected an amendment, which means that you considered that...”
- Deferred divisions: Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (2 Dec 2009) has video
“On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Purely for clarification and so that I am not confused-I do not like being confused-may I ask what impact debating the motion moved by the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Heath) will have on the time available to debate the main motion? [ Interruption. ] You did not even hear that point of order, did you?”
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 10 debates in the last year — below average amongst MPs.
- Has received answers to 8 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 2008, 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.
- 110 people are tracking whenever this MP speaks — email me whenever Ann Widdecombe speaks.
- Has used three-word alliterative phrases (e.g. "she sells seashells") 877 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. Address: Express Newspapers, 10 Lower Thames Street, London, EC3R 6EN (£50,001-£55,000)
Monthly payment of £4583 for writing weekly column. Hours: 8 hrs. (Registered 17 July 2009).
Monthly payment of £4583 for writing weekly column. Hours: 8 hrs. (Registered 19 August 2009).
Monthly payment of £4583 for writing weekly column. Hours: 10 hrs. (Registered 14 September 2009)
1 November 2009, monthly payment of £4583 received for writing weekly column. Hours: 8 hrs. (Registered 17 November 2009)
1 December 2009, monthly payment of £4583 received for writing weekly column. Hours: 8 hrs. (Registered 18 December 2009)
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)
17 June 2009, speaking engagement via Gordon Poole Agency for the Bradford Care Home Support. (Up to £5,000) (Registered 26 June 2009)
23 June 2009, speaking engagement via Women Speakers for Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce. (Up to £5,000) (Registered 26 June 2009)
1 July 2009, received gift of bottle of whisky for speaking engagement at Bury Hospice, 89 The Rock, Bury, BL9 0NB. Estimated value: £15. Hours: 2 hours. (Registered 15 July 2009).
1st July 2009, received gift of bottle of whisky for speaking engagement at Cheadle Conservatives, Mellor Road, Cheadle, SK8 5AT. Estimated value: £15. Hours: 3 hrs. (Registered 15 July 2009).
4 July 2009, received £25 M&S Voucher for speaking engagement at Tap In To Faith, The Vicarage, Palace Place, Paignton, TQ3 3AQ. Hours: 2 hrs. (Registered 15 July 2009)
9 July 2009, received flowers and donation of £50 to the Goat Sanctuary, Maidstone for speaking engagement at Croydon Townswoman Guild, C/O Tomlinson House, 1st floor, 329 Tyburn Road, Erdington, Birmingham, B24 8HJ. Flowers estimated value: £10. Hours:2 hrs. (Registered 15 July 2009).
14 July 2009, received Waterman's Ball Point Pen for speaking engagement at the Friends of West London Mission, 19 Thayer Street, London, W1. Gift value: £65.66. Hours: 2 hrs. (Registered 15 July 2009)
Received mug for speaking engagement at the Campaign Against Political Correctness, Trevose House, Orsett Street, Kennington, London, SE11 5PN. Hours: 1.5hrs. (Registered 19 August 2009)
Received £50 for talk given to Bovey Tracey Women's Luncheon Club. Hours: 2hrs. Fee donated to charity. Address: The Dolphin Hotel, Station Road, Bovey Tracey, Devon TQ13 9AL. (Registered 9 October 2009)
Address: Jonathan Richards, LBC Radio Ltd, 30 Leicester Square, London WC2H 7LA.
Received £5500 for two weeks' radio cover for James O'Brien. Hours: 30 hrs. (Registered 9 October 2009)
12 October 2009, received £150 for appearing on LBC Radio. Hours: 1 hr. (28 October 2009)
Received instalment payment of £5000 for filming C4 Bible Series over a 14 day period. Hours: TBC. Address: Pioneer Productions, 32 Galena Road, London W6 0LT. (Registered 9 October 2009)
9 October 2009, received £750 for an appearance at the Cheltenham Literary Festival. Address: Clair Greenaway, Cheltenham Festivals, 109 Bath Road, Cheltenham GL53 7LS. Hours: 2 hrs. (28 October 2009)
9 October 2009, received flowers for giving a talk to the West Kent WI District Conference. Address: Joyce Garland, Meopham Village Hall, Wrotham Road, Meopham, Kent DA13 0AA. Hours: 2 hrs. (28 October 2009)
10 October 2009, received flowers and a £50 charitable donation for giving a talk to the Maidstone branch of the Disabled Christian Fellowship. Address: Allington Baptist Church, 76a London Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 0DT. Hours: 1.5 hrs. (28 October 2009)
10 October 2009, received a fruit bowl for giving a talk to the Faversham and Mid Kent Conservative Association. Address: 8 Faversham Road, Lenham, Maidstone, Kent ME17 2PN. Hours: 2 hrs. (28 October 2009)
11 October 2009, received flowers for giving a lecture at Ely Cathedral. Address: Ely Cathedral, High Street, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 4DL. Hours: 1.5 hrs. (28 October 2009)
13 October 2009, received a bottle of whisky for giving a talk to Wellingborough Conservatives Ladies' Lunch. Address: Wellingborough Conservative Association, 21a High Street, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire NN8 4JZ. Hours: 2 hrs. (28 October 2009)
16 October 2009, received £2000 for giving a talk to Birmingham Forward. Address: Jeremy Harmer, Famous Faces, PO Box 69, Kingsbridge, Devon TQ7 4WZ. Hours: 3 hrs. (28 October 2009)
19 October 2009, received £500 for participating in a debate. Address: Hannah Kaye, Intelligence Squared, 45 Foubert's Place, London W1F 7QH. Hours: 3 hrs. (28 October 2009)
22 October 2009, received a box of chocolates for giving a talk at Rainham Library. Address: David Dennison, Rainham Library, Broadway, Rainham, Essex RM13 9YW. Hours: 1.5 hrs. (28 October 2009)
23 October 2009, received flowers for attending a constituency event (Community Matters Celebration). Address: Mr Richard Johnstone, Waitrose Allington Park, Mid Kent Shopping Centre, Allington Park, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 0PX. Hours: 1 hr. (28 October 2009)
23 October 2009, £100 of dry cleaning vouchers donated to charity for attending a constituency event (opening of a refurbished store). Address: Mr Andrew Boswell, Johnson Dry Cleaners, 18 Gabriels Hill, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6JG. Hours: 0.5 hrs. (28 October 2009)
9 September 2009, received payment of £175 for appearing on GMTV. Address: The London Television Centre, Upper Ground, London SE1 9TT. Hours: 2 hrs. (Registered 17 November 2009)
30 October 2009, received a bottle of whisky for giving a speech to South West Devon Conservative Association. Address: Station Road, Totnes, TQ9 5HW. Hours: 2 hrs. (Registered 17 November 2009)
2 November 2009, £150 donation to charity for writing an article for The Guardian. Address: Guardian News and Media PLC, 1 Scott Place, Manchester M3 3GG. Hours: 1 hr.(Registered 17 November 2009)
5 November 2009, received a cuddly reindeer for giving a talk to Castle Point Conservatives. Address: Edna Bowden, Castle Point Conservatives, 8 Green Road, Benfleet, Essex. Hours: 2 hrs. (Registered 17 November 2009)
5 November 2009, received some flowers for giving a talk to Brentwood Catholic Children Society. Address: Ann Davenport, Brentwood Catholic Children Society, Childcare House, Little Wheatley Chase, Rayleigh, Essex SS6 9EH. Hours: 3 hrs. (Registered 17 November 2009)
13 November 2009, received £3450 for a speaking engagement at the Chartered Institute of Housing. Address of payer: United Agents, 12-16 Lexington Street, London, W1F 0LE. Hours: 3 hrs. (Registered 17 November 2009)
13 November 2009, received £3450 for a speaking engagement at The Concrete Society. Address of payer: JLA Ltd, 80 Great Portland Street, London W1W 7NW. Hours: 3 hrs. (Registered 17 November 2009)
Constituency engagement: opening of new classroom and reception. Received flowers (value: £15). Address: Mrs S Wood, Hunton Primary School, Bishops Lane, Hunton, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 0SJ. Hours: 1.5 hrs. (Registered 18 December 2009)
Constituency Engagement: Presentation Evening. Received flowers (value: £20). Address: Mr D Morse, Chairman Maidstone Duke of Edinburgh's Award Panel, c/o County Hall, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1XQ. Hours: 1.5 hrs. (Registered 18 December 2009)
Speaking Engagement: Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), Cardiff. Received £2000. Address of payer: Gordon Poole Agency Limited, The Limes, Brockley, Bristol, BS48 3BB. Hours: 3 hrs. (Registered 18 December 2009)
Speaking Engagement: School Prizegiving. Received £50 in book tokens. Charlie Lawson, The Lady Eleanor Holles School, Hanworth Road, Hampton, TW12 3HF. Hours: 2.5 hrs. (Registered 18 December 2009)
Speaking Engagement: Colorplast. Received £3000. Address of payer: United Agents Limited, 12 - 26 Lexington Street, London, W1F 0LE. Hours: 3 hrs. (Registered 18 December 2009)
Speaking Engagement: London Branch of Corrosion. Received £2000. Address of payer: Gordon Poole Agency Limited, The Limes, Brockley, Bristol, BS48 3BB. Hours: 3 hrs. (Registered 18 December 2009)
Speaking Engagment: Sevenoaks Conservative Association Supper Club. Received a bunch of flowers (value: £25). Address: private. Hours: 3 hrs. (Registered 18 December 2009)
Speaking Engagement: Honorarium. Received £1000. Address of payer: Manon Bradley, Major Projects Association, Egrove Park, Kennington, Oxford, OX1 5NY. Hours: 3 hrs. (Registered 18 December 2009)
Speaking Engagement. Received a plant basket (value: £35). Address: Mr Matt Collis, IFAW, 87 - 90 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7UD. Hours: 2 hrs. (Registered 18 December 2009)
Speaking Engagement: Dartmoor Preservation Association. Received a bunch of flowers (value: £25). Address: Mr James Paxman, Old Duchy Hotel, Princetown, Devon, PL20 6QF. Hours: 3 hrs. (Registered 18 December 2009)
Constituency Engagement: School Prizegiving. Received a bunch of flowers (value: £30). Address: Dr P Limbert, Invicta Grammar School, Huntsman Lane, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 5DS. Hours: 2 hrs. (Registered 18 December 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: 6 Jan 2010. 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 – 2008/09 and 1st quarter 2009/10 receipts.
| Type | 2008/09 (ranking out of 647) | 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staying away from main home | £2,105 (577th) | £858 (585th) | £401 (589th) | £2,593 | £9,206 (576th) | £9,139 (577th) | £10,139 (587th) | £10,320 (560th) |
| London costs | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Office running costs | £19,159 (261st) | £20,957 (180th) | £19,231 (419th) | £17,938 | £19,296 (joint 146th with 2 others) | £18,799 (joint 13th with 178 others) | £18,229 (joint 208th with 4 others) | £14,149 (374th) |
| Staffing costs | £97,292 (262nd) | £87,456 (333rd) | £84,763 (303rd) | £82,561 | £72,275 (joint 242nd with 2 others) | £68,977 (209th) | £68,904 (127th) | £49,047 (213th) |
| Communications Allowance | £0 | £0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Members' Travel | £1,139 (612th)3 | £1,634 (596th)2 | £1,507 (604th)1 | £2,270 | £2,164 (616th) | £2,672 (599th) | £2,674 (596th) | £2,041 (596th) |
| Members' Staff Travel | £100 (342nd) | £25 (422nd) | £86 (382nd) | £181 | £225 (356th) | £44 (459th) | £0 | £0 |
| Members' Spouse Travel | £0 | £0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Members' Family Travel | £0 | £0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Centrally Purchased Stationery | £2,901 (390th) | £465 (joint 511th with 3 others) | £788 (joint 367th with 2 others) | £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 with 1 other) | £793 (joint 601st with 2 others) | £793 | £1,420 (joint 594th with 1 other) | £1,420 (joint 583rd with 1 other) | £1,420 (joint 568th with 1 other) | £1,420 (497th) | |
| Other Costs | £0 | £2,430 (49th) | £2,170 (43rd) | £0 | £2,992 (57th) | £8,078 (12th) | £0 | £0 |
| Total | £122,696 (582nd) | £115,728 (614th) | £111,242 (602nd) | £112,356 | £111,817 (526th) | £115,375 (406th) | £103,571 (505th) | £78,309 (508th) |
2 Regular journeys between home/constituency/Westminster: Mileage £1,429 (473rd). Rail £205 (537th).
3 Regular journeys between home/constituency/Westminster: Mileage £1,012 (492nd). Rail £127 (556th).