Ann Widdecombe 'profoundly relieved' to leave Commons

FORMER Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe spoke last night of her "profound relief" to be leaving the Commons.

In her valedictory speech, Miss Widdecombe hit out at the "welter of public vituperation and vilification" that Parliament had been subject to in recent times.

She hoped people would recognise that the overwhelming majority of MPs made "some degree of sacrifice" in terms of finance or family to work in Parliament.

"My hope for the future is that some calmness and respect will again prevail," she told MPs in the wake of the expenses scandal.

Ms Widdecombe served as Home Office minister in John Major's government during a 23-year Commons career. She said: "I always imagined that when I was making my last speech and about to depart, that I would be sad – instead I find my uppermost sentiment is one of profound relief."

Ms Widdecombe bemoaned the "plight" of the non-working mother and social attitudes which made out there was "somehow something intrinsically second class" about women who opted to stay at home to bring up children.