BREAKING: Ann Widdecombe dies aged 78 - Reform's Richard Tice pays emotional tribute

So we're starting with the breaking news that Anne Widdicombe, the former MP and former MEP, has died unexpectedly at the age of 78. I think it's come as a big shock to everybody. She was an outspoken backer of leaving the EU, serving as a member of the European Parliament for the Brexit party. She was perhaps best known as a Tory MP for a long time before leaving the Commons in 2010. And then in recent years, she joined Reform UK as the party's justice and immigration advisor. Earlier on, we spoke to the deputy leader of Reform UK, Richard Tice. Let's talk to Reform Party deputy leader Richard Tice. Richard, good morning to you. This really is a shock, isn't it? What's happened? It's devastating, Stephen and Anne. Absolutely shocking. I literally spoke to Anne at length on Monday. I was in text messages with her on Tuesday. So, yeah, just utterly devastating. She was a true legend in the world of politics and the world of media. I first met her in 2019 when she joined the Brexit party. She was a fantastic person to work with. Her experience and, you know, just very strong views. Whether you loved her views, liked her views or not, she had a clear view. She argued it. What was remarkable was her ability to, behind closed doors, have a discussion, have a debate. But when a decision was made, then she really understood that point around collective responsibility and she would go out and she would sell it. And she was so remarkable. She was an incredible orator. You just had pictures there of her on the stage on some of our events. I mean, she she had the audience absolutely spellbound and she was utterly fearless, even though she had a huge presence, although physically, actually, she was, you know, she was a very sort of small stature height wise. But she just her ability to to enthuse everybody, to get the crowd going. And her views were very socially conservative in her political career. She was in the Commons some 23 years. That was just the warm up, Stephen and Anne, to her then sort of media career. I mean, her celebrity come dancing. I mean, she she got Bruce Forsyth worried that she might take over his show with her expertise. I mean, just she she was a legend. And as you said earlier, or Theo said, I'm not sure they make them like that anymore. They really don't know. And that means she will be missed. I mean, already many of our viewers are in touch just saying, you know, whatever your political leaning, you have to respect a lady who always spoke her mind, always made good points, talked sense and spent her life working for our country. And she really did dedicate herself to her job, which was why she was such an asset to you when she switched to reform. I remember walking out on stage for the first time on the reform stage. And the roar from the crowd was incredible. You will miss her, won't you? We will all miss her terribly. And we will miss her sage advice, advice and at every level. And she was such a workaholic. I mean, she lived down in the southwest. But if we if she wanted so if we wanted her to appear at a big rally in Sunderland, you know, she would get there. She would travel the whole length and breadth of the country all the way right up until she passed away. I mean, I'm just I'm just was was driving up to my constituency this morning. I truly can't believe it, actually. But the Anne that I spoke to just earlier this week is is no longer with us. It's it's a devastating shock. It really is. It's one of those things, Richard, you say, you know, they don't make them like that anymore. It's the idea of a conviction politician, isn't it? As you say, you don't necessarily have to agree with them on everything that they are. They have to hold their convictions on. But the fact that someone is willing to stand their ground, which is, you know, part of her appeal, really, you knew what she stood for, whether you liked it or not. Absolutely. And and that's about conviction. It's about passion. It's about leadership and and the loyalty that she showed. I think that's why that's why so many millions actually enjoyed hearing from her, hearing her thoughts and her views. And as you say, you may or may not have agreed with some of them. None of them are all of them. But it was the her contribution to to public life, to debate, to the discussion. And she always entertained. I mean, she was obviously on GB News so many times contributing and and she was utterly fearless. She had a view. She argued the case and and you always respected it. And whether it was in a small meeting or a huge audience of thousands of people, she had everybody listening intently to to what she what she said. And that's a remarkable gift, absolutely remarkable gift in anybody. I think like you said, I think we're all in shock because I mean, I know one of our producers was just chatting to her the other day. You said you did just a couple of days ago. And I mean, whatever has caused her death, no doubt we will we will be hearing throughout the morning, but whatever has done it, you either have to surmise that she maybe she was ill and didn't let on and she worked right to the end. She worked right to the end and the other. I mean, it's it's so devastating. But, you know, she also just occasionally she would allow herself a very delicious whiskey, was something special. I always remember about and, you know, was it quite yet whiskey time? And just in small quantities, it was just it was just another remarkable piece of a of a great lady. And, you know, she never married. So she never had children. Her contribution was to public life, both in in politics and entertaining people. I mean, her media career, you know, the Panto, the quantity of Panto that she did. Was was remarkable. And and she was brilliant at it and she loved it all. She was just a prodigious worker. She wrote so many books. She would go on cruises, lecturing to, you know, to people on cruise ships and things. Absolutely remarkable person. She is a lesson to us all working right all the way through and just a lover of life, a lover of work. Richard, really good to talk to you. We appreciate you taking the time today. Thank you. There you are. That was Richard Tice speaking to us just a little earlier. Also with us now, news editor for the Press Association, Theo Usherwood. It is a terrific shock. None of us know what happened at the moment. We just remain thinking that, gosh, we now live in a world where Ann Widdicombe isn't available anymore. She was always around. Yeah, she was. And, you know, you don't want to necessarily use the word national treasure, but she had that. You really were, wasn't she? Yeah, yeah, I think. Even if you didn't agree with her? You didn't have to agree with her. And I think that's, I think she speaks to, yeah, perhaps, no, it's not a cliche. I think you're right, Ann. I think she managed to encapsulate a sort of a view of, you know, what it meant to be, you know, loved by people. She was very good at, you know, not many MPs leave Parliament as she did in 2010 after a 23-year career. I think, I mean, if you look at her career high, probably it was serving as Shadow Home Secretary under William Hayes' government. But she left that and then went on to have another career. And that's quite rare amongst MPs. Well, she sort of had a show business career as well. That's what I mean. It's quite rare, you know, that's the exception rather than the rule that MPs are able to make that transition, you know, starring in Celebrity Big Brother. And it didn't devalue her politics. No, it didn't. And she was very good at, you know, she always stuck to her guns. She stuck to her principles. She didn't waver. And you might, as you say, you don't have to agree with her. And there was a bygone age where you didn't have to agree with everybody and you could still rub along. And I think, and she encapsulated that, she encapsulated that very well. And it's, you know, obviously our thoughts are with her family and friends and loved ones You know, it's a real shock that she...