Ann Widdecombe

[RamblingRosa]

No, not a thread about how she introduced the shackling of female prisoners while in labour. Or about her anti gay rights record. Or about how galling it is to see her reinvent herself as some kind of nutty but endearing reality TV star.

Nope, this is about how she's using her Strictly fame to campaign against abortion and a woman's right to choose.

Abortion Rights have organised a demo/picket outside an anti-abortion fundraiser next week where Widdecombe is the star guest.
Date: Thursday 25th November
Start time: 6.30 pm
Location: Royal Overseas House, Park Place, St James?s Street, London, SW1A 1LR.

More details on www.abortionrights.org.uk

It just happens to be what she believes in.

I don't, but she's entitled to her view.

She is not bombing cars or hassling women she is just giving her view as far as I know. Surely people are entitled to do that.

She is a Roman Catholic afaik - and her beliefs about abortion reflect her faith. As long as she doesn't throw bombs or murder anyone who chooses abortion then I have no problem with it.

me neither this is a free country

agree with Maisie. She ia a Catholic, she converted from Anglicanism. She isn't using her Strictly fame for this. She has probably always had these views.

'me neither this is a free country'

it is as long as some socialists don't get their wish

what do you mean claig

I wouldn't worry, her general reputation is for being mad as cheese not a serious political thinker

A bit like Cherie Blair

'what do you mean claig'opnonopn

I think that the threat to our freedoms comes from certain socialists and communists. The colaition of liberals and conservatives have reprealed the anti-freedom policies of the socialists and restored our civil liberties. Socialists often wish to restrict our thoughts and freedoms

ok then

Who uses the word 'socialist' in a non-historical context anymore? Except student politicians, obv.

I use the word socialist because that is what they are, even though they now hide the truth under their new camouflage term of progressive

Scottish Socialist Party, Pamela?

I use the word socialist. It's a political system, innit. Socialism. What else to call it? (sure claig will have some ideas )

On the OP - as much as I despise Anne widdecombes views on abortion and other matters such as the ones highlighted in the OP, I also don't think that the two are linked. I am sure she did not enter Strictly purely in order to get more fame and then to use that to further a pro-life agenda IYSWIM.

RamblingRosa, I am really shocked, actually, that she has done all the things you mentioned, especially shackling female prisoners in labour.

And no, "choosing" has nothing to do with feminism. That's neoliberal claptrap.

I think it's pretty bad.

Pro-life means making sure each child that is born gets a fighting chance, with all the love and resources its parents have to offer. ABortion has been used all over the world in many cultures for millenia to make sure women can feed the children they already have. IN Japan, little dolls are made to represent the children that were conceived, but the mother was not able to bring into existence, because of poverty or other factors.

Blocking women's access to abortion is actually pro-death, pro-poverty and pro-mental illness.

Rather than blocking rights to abortion, society should focus on making sure women have the resources and support they need to bring every child they conceive into existence

The trouble with pro life campaigns is that they seem to be decidedly anti-choice though.

I don't think she's a nice person at all and I have no idea about the quality of her political thought, but I suspect that if she is perceived as 'mad as cheese' that has more to do with her breaking the accepted rules about how women in the public eye are meant to be - young, pretty, well-behaved etc.
She's not mad. But she is wrong.

Very good point, Seth.

But if we are doing a charge sheet for AW, let's not forget she converted to Catholicism because she objected to women being ordained.

If I was RC, I wouldn't be too impressed at having all these misogynists clamouring to get in, not because they believe in that branch of Christianity but because they aren't allowed to oppress women in the CofE.

I "know" Ann Widdecombe, not as a friend but because we have mixed in similar circles. She is a very good woman actually, she just doesn't shout about it. She spends her life trying to act out her faith rather than just going to church on a Sunday and then forgetting about it. Having said that I agree with edam about her reasons for conversion. There is much more to being a Catholic than simply not wanting women in authority.

Guardian today points out she stood up at a Tory conference and argued for shorter prison sentences (v. brave) and opposes fox hunting on the grounds of cruelty (apparently told people who claim the fox enjoys the hunt 'right, I'll hire a helicopter and drop you in the middle of the Masai Mara, let's see how you enjoy escaping from hungry lions'.

Just being fair here, to balance up the charge sheet.

Excellent RamblingRosa!

If you would like to look at the charge sheet then there is a handy list here for you edam -
Absolutely revolting woman. It's not just opposition to a woman being in control of her body. www.pickledpolitics.com/archives/10697

For those saying Widdecombe's opposition to abortion is simply about her Catholicism then perhaps you haven't heard of Cathlics For Choice?

(btw, she didn't advocate the shackling of woman in labour, as I found out reading Hansard recently, but she also seems to have no idea when labour starts)

Her anti abortion view is about her faith, it is what the Catholic catechism teaches.

There are plenty of Catholics who don't believe the same waterlooroad, and Widdecombe felt this way before 'her conversion'.

Yes they do earwicga. But they are influenved by something other than their religion.