‘We Will Never Forget You’: Andrew Rosindell Pays Moving Tribute to His Friend Ann Widdecombe at The Reform UK Conference.
Romford MP Andrew Rosindell has paid a deeply personal tribute to his late friend and political inspiration Ann Widdecombe, remembering a woman he described as courageous, principled, patriotic and never afraid to say what she believed.
Speaking at the Reform UK Conference in Birmingham on Friday 4 September 2026, Mr Rosindell reflected on his 25 years as the Member of Parliament for Romford and the nine years he was privileged to sit alongside Ann Widdecombe in the House of Commons.
His tribute was clearly a personal one.
He spoke of Ann not simply as a formidable political figure, but as a true friend and an inspiration, remembering her determination to stand up for the principles she believed in.
Mr Rosindell recalled a woman who, throughout her political life, refused to bend her convictions simply to follow public opinion or a party line.
He also remembered Ann’s passion for animal welfare, her patriotism, her Christian faith and, above all, her belief that ordinary people deserved to be listened to and represented.
One of the most poignant moments came when Mr Rosindell recalled meeting Ann in the corridors of Parliament only a few months ago.
She congratulated him on joining Reform UK and asked how he was getting on.
He then reminded her of a conversation they had shared in Southend in April 2024, shortly before the General Election, when they had dinner with their mutual friend Lady Julia Amess.
Ann had told him she was due to speak at a Reform UK fundraiser in Romford the following day.
Her message to him was characteristically direct.
She would support Reform UK, she told him, but would not say anything too bad about him — apart from pointing out that he was in the wrong political party and should join Reform UK himself.
Now, with a smile, Mr Rosindell reflected that Ann had clearly been right.
He told the conference:
“Nigel’s been telling me that from the start, I told her!”
And then came the line that brought his personal connection to Ann into sharp focus:
“Well, Nigel, conference, I think that was good advice form Ann, don’t you. So here I am!”
But alongside the humour was a profound sense of loss.
Mr Rosindell described Ann as someone who put her country before party and who never needed to wait for instructions before speaking out.
He remembered her as a politician who genuinely believed in what she said and was prepared to fight for it.
In his tribute, he said:
“Ann Widdicombe, ladies and gentlemen, was a woman of courage, who was in politics for the right reasons: to serve her country, defend the British nation and stand up for the heritage and Christian foundations of these islands.”
He described her as one of an increasingly rare group of public figures who possessed genuine conviction.
“Ann didn’t need to wait to be given the party line, she didn’t read from a script handed to her by party bureaucrats or wait to be given instruction by the whips.”
“Ann instinctively knew what was right and would fight for it.”
For Mr Rosindell, that determination was at the heart of who Ann was.
Whether people agreed with her or disagreed with her, he said, nobody could doubt that she genuinely believed in the causes she championed.
Her passion for animal welfare was one such example.
“A good example was her love of animals – her passion to end cruelty inflicted upon God’s creatures. This was a subject for which she was uncompromising.”
He said this typified Ann’s nature: when she believed something was right, she would not compromise.
Mr Rosindell also reflected on Ann’s deep belief in ordinary British people — people he said were too often ignored, spoken down to, sneered at and betrayed by those who claimed to represent them.
But perhaps the most powerful part of the tribute came at the end.
Mr Rosindell thanked his friend for the example she had set and for the kindness and compassion she had shown to so many people.
“Thank you Ann, for leading the way for so many of us, thank you Ann for always being there for when you were needed, and thank you for your kindness, compassion and for being a true friend to so many, but above all, thank you for your patriotism and love of country.”
He continued:
“Losing you from our lives has been an unbearably tragic moment. We will, never forget you, or stop fighting for the things you stood for throughout your life.”
And finally, he made a promise on behalf of those who knew and admired her:
“Our task must now be to carry on the battle to save our country, as Ann would have done, but now, we must do so with even greater determination, in her memory.”
“God bless and thank you, Ann Widdecombe.”
For Andrew Rosindell, this was clearly far more than a political speech.
It was a farewell to a friend.
A woman who challenged him, encouraged him, made him laugh, inspired him and, ultimately, helped influence the political path he would take.
Whatever people’s political views may have been, Ann Widdecombe was a woman who left an unmistakable mark on British public life.
And in Birmingham, Andrew Rosindell made clear that for those who knew her personally, her greatest legacy will not simply be the political battles she fought.
It will be the person she was.
A friend. A campaigner. A woman of conviction. And, for Andrew Rosindell, someone he will never forget.
Stay up to date with all of our latest updates and content by following us on our social media accounts!
We have created community pages where we will share our up-to-date stories happening in the area. Add the area closest to where you live.
Discover more from The Havering Daily
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
