Ann Widdecombe wows Catholic Society as Guest Speaker

Ann Widdecombe shows she’s more than just a dancing queen when she was invited to Exeter University.

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Ann Widdecombe gave a talk on ‘Morality in Public Life’ on campus after being invited by the University Catholic Society.

The politician, novelist and Strictly quarter – finalist’s talk dealt with pressure in the public eye, the demands of the media, religion and fielding questions from the audience on 27th February 2013.

The introduction saw Widdecombe speak of the way that twenty-four hour news has led to a demand for instant drama, arguing politicians are practically forced to lie. An anecdote of her appointment as Shadow Health Secretary described the media’s expectations that she might have had a fully-formed policy after five minutes in office.

Most of the evening was taken up by questions from the audience, of which there were plenty. Many centred around Widdecombe’s religious views; the difficulties of controlling laws on abortion and euthanasia, the complications and benefits of married priests, and the debate on women priests, being some of the front-runners. As well as this, there was some interest in Widdecombe’s conversion from Anglican to Catholic, to which she explained her experience of the Anglican Church as being unsure of its own views.

Widdecombe finished the evening with a few quips about her time on Strictly, finishing with the inspiring image of her and Anton dancing in the air under the glitter ball; a treat which the nation denied itself when it voted them out.

The Catholic Society were left with an impression of strong, forthright woman, who was unafraid to be controversial.

Miranda Fern, a first year studying History and Ancient History, thought: “It was a fascinating insight into areas of the British political system, delivered with a substantial helping of humour and self-deprecation.”