Peers called for greater tolerance and respect for differing opinions during tributes to Ann Widdecombe in the House of Lords this week.
The 78-year-old Reform politician and devout Catholic was found dead in her home last week, having sustained serious injuries. Counter Terrorism Policing, which is leading the investigation, said she died in a “targeted attack”.
Lord Alton was among the peers paying tribute to Widdecombe in the House of Lords, while expressing concern about today’s “toxic environment” and calling on people to respect difference.
“Ann was intelligent, principled and kind. Yes, her beliefs were founded on those twin pillars of faith and patriotism in a very toxic environment, fuelled often … by hatred,” he said.
“We have to do far more to respect difference and diversity and uphold minorities in our community. We must work far harder to create a climate in which difference of opinion can be expressed with tolerance and respect.
“Now, we must do all we can to honour Ann’s memory. I hope there will be a book of condolence which we can all sign. In addition, we have to honour her memory by creating an environment where people can express their differences in tolerance and respect.”
Conservative peer Lord True also raised concerns about the state of public debate and the dangers faced by MPs.
“To those who sneered about Ann Widdecombe after the news of her death or, worse, welcomed her death, I say that to try to unsay such things when you learn of the manner of her death does not make it okay. Your shameful words are indelible, and their stain lies not on her but for ever on you,” he said.
“There is too much easy hatred in politics today. We must confront all its perpetrators and root them out.
“There was no hatred in Ann Widdecombe. Strong principles? Yes, you sure knew where you stood. Convictions expressed with clarity? Certainly. A zeal to serve her community? Absolutely. Readiness to debate fiercely and then make up with a drink and a laugh afterwards? Very much so.
“People who knew her in the House of Commons say there was never a harder-working constituency MP. She worked for the causes in which she believed day in, day out, right to the very end.”
The Lord Speaker, Lord Forsyth of Drumlean, paid a tender tribute to his friend of over 50 years, while noting that no bishops from the Church of England had attended the session.
“She had that quality that guarantees all other virtues: immense courage,” he said.
“She also had great empathy for people, even those she disagreed with. In the absence of anyone on the Bishops’ Bench, perhaps I could be permitted to say that she had a deep and abiding faith, and she believed that she would be with her maker now.
“If anyone deserves to be with their maker, it is Ann, because of her dedication and deep-held beliefs.
“We may not have believed in everything she said, but all of us who are sending our condolences to her family should take pride in and have gratitude for her record of public service, which honoured us all and which adorned our Parliament and our democracy.”
The Church of England faced some strong criticism on social media for the absence of its bishops during the Lords’ tribute.
Widdecombe was an Anglican until she converted to Catholicism following the Church of England’s vote to ordain women as bishops in 1993.
