To have been pretty impressed by Ann Widdecombe and her comments on the Philpotts and benefits?

[Molehillmountain]

I've been really critical of her in the past but she seems to be the only right leaning voice speaking any kind of balance on Mick Philpott. At least she seems able to isolate a wicked act by a bad man from the (unpleasant) debate about benefits that is raging at the moment. Perhaps George Osborne could have her as a mentor?

[Molehillmountain]

Edwina Currie? No-never going to happen. No one can forget the egg thing while her name still sounds a bit like "egg-Wina"!

[M0naLisa]

No she didn't say anything about him being a good father. She said they weren't neglected, were fed and cared for.
She was also not scared when he stood up to her calling her a bitch.

She also said he was all front for the cameras.

[Molehillmountain]

Yes-Mona, it was in response to a "why didn't ss step in?" Question and she rightly said there weren't the triggers as the children were clean, fed, well behaved and attended school. She just doesn't get hysterical about stuff or say things bigger than they are to prove a point. No wonder she never made it further in politics!

[auforfoulkesake]

i was pleasantly surprised when I heard her on Jeremy vine, despite him goading her into blaming the benefit culture she would not.

[ClaireDeTamble]

I like Ann Widdecombe too and although I don't totally agree with her politics, I prefer her old style, feudalistic, paternalistic, conservatism to the modern day, self centred, no such thing as society, thatcherite tories.

[Gigondas]

I also thought she was sensible on this -heard her on radio.

[ithaka]

I though Ann Widdecombe was the Home Secretary who was responsible for pregnant women being handcuffed to beds hen they were in labour?

But the way you are all talking about her, I must be wrong....

[Nancy66]

She absolutely DID say he was a good father. Not since he was charged but at the time of the documentary and immediately after the fire she did.

[Squarepebbles]

She is a very wise old bird and lives in the middle of Dartmoor.

I ended up in the hairdressers as the same time as her whilst she was having a photo shoot for Strictly.

I was amazed at how lovely,quiet and polite she was. She also looked stunning when they'd finished cutting her hair, I looked shite in comparison.

Did have a what has my life come to moment after that though.

[ithaka]

Ah, not Home Secretary. In 1996, as prisons minister, she oversaw the Government's policy to shackle pregnant prisoners with handcuffs and chains when in hospital. Lovely lady.

[Vicky2011]

There are plenty of people on the right who feel the benefits system needs reform and that, in some cases, it is counterproductive who don't, for one minute, think that it turned Mick Philpott into a murderer.

If anything we should be asking why he was free to murder (and yes I'm deliberately using that word) having previously stabbed his ex multiple times!

I think this case has become clouded because in court it was argued that his motive for starting the fire was part of a custody battle and that the children were, in effect, his meal ticket but to extrapolate any points on the welfare state from this one vile individual is bizarre.

[Footface]

Nancy is right. She did say he was a good father, straight after the fire. But before he was charged, not sure at that point though she could have said anything else

[TanteRose]

article in the Independent

her views do seem to be measured and thoughtful, in the midst of all the other coverage

[Lorelailovesluke]

Ithaka, I was coming on to make same point.

She is a very right wing, shackling pregnant women in hospital, anti gay marriage for a start. Just because she made once sensible comment it does not make her a national treasure.

[LittleAbruzzenBear]

While I don't agree with everything AW says, I agree with your comments that she does seem more caring and considerate than other MPs. This article is interesting.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/natalie-bennett/minimum-wage-make-work-pay_b_3014713.html?utm_hp_ref=uk

[Squarepebbles]

She is a staunch Catholic.Many people with various religious convictions are anti gay marriage.I am not Tory or religious and pro gay marriage however I have to except others are not the same.There are several beliefs I don't agree with in all sorts of religions.

I have over her house.When I retire I want a house in the middle of Dartmoor with cats so I can spend days striding over Tors.

Did anybody see that doc in her years back,she has led quite an interesting life?Very bright lady.

[DreamsTurnToGoldDust]

I agree with Ithaka and Lorela.

[Squarepebbles]

Also re prisons.They had had women escape as hospitals aren't secure.At the end of the day you are still a criminal even if you end up in hospital.Being shackled to a bed whilst receiving treatment isn't exactly a huge hardship.If you don't like it don't break the law.Don't do the crime if you don't want to do the time.

She had some interesting views re making prison more beneficial long term for inmates ie getting them to work,seems to be getting quite trendy now.

[JakeBullet]

I have always liked AW, simply because she says what she believes....even if it doesn't toe the official party line.

[EldritchCleavage]

I don't like her, because I think she is deeply intolerant of other women. A misogynist, in fact.

[Wannabestepfordwife]

I still think she would have made a fantastic speaker

[flippinada]

Yes, I was pleasantly surprised to hear her comments yesterday.

I don't agree with her views but I do think they are sincere and genuinely held, unlike the new breed of career politicians.

[Freddiemisagreatshag]

I like her. I don't agree with her on everything but she really believes her views and isn't prepared to be shifted. Nor is she one for the sound bite for a headline shite that so many politicians of both flavours seem to favour.

[thebody]

She didn't fiddle her expenses either did she.

She has integrity and that's so bloody rare in public life now.