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Ann Widdecombe: I don't want 'Mr Right' but still find men 'rather fun' Ann Widdecombe: I don't want 'Mr Right' but still find men 'rather fun'
(4 days later)
Former MP Anne Widdecombe has said it is "quite nice" being single and that, even if "Mr Right" came along, she would "repel all borders". Former MP Ann Widdecombe has said it is "quite nice" being single and that, even if "Mr Right" came along, she would "repel all boarders".
The novelist and star of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing said she had not fallen in love since splitting with her university boyfriend.The novelist and star of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing said she had not fallen in love since splitting with her university boyfriend.
She also told BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour she thought David Cameron had become Conservative leader too early.She also told BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour she thought David Cameron had become Conservative leader too early.
She also expressed "huge respect" for Home Secretary Theresa May.She also expressed "huge respect" for Home Secretary Theresa May.
Ms Widdecombe, 65, left Parliament at the 2010 general election, having represented Maidstone - and then Maidstone and the Weald - for the Conservatives since 1987.Ms Widdecombe, 65, left Parliament at the 2010 general election, having represented Maidstone - and then Maidstone and the Weald - for the Conservatives since 1987.
During her time in politics, she served as prisons minister and shadow home secretary.During her time in politics, she served as prisons minister and shadow home secretary.
'Myth''Myth'
Ms Widdecombe, who has never married, told the programme's host Jenni Murray that she never made a conscious decision to remain single after breaking up with university boyfriend Colin Maltby, but had never fallen in love again.Ms Widdecombe, who has never married, told the programme's host Jenni Murray that she never made a conscious decision to remain single after breaking up with university boyfriend Colin Maltby, but had never fallen in love again.
"I think there is this myth that anybody who's single has taken this decision," she said."I think there is this myth that anybody who's single has taken this decision," she said.
"Well, one or two people might have done, but I certainly never did."Well, one or two people might have done, but I certainly never did.
"When the relationship with Colin was over, my underlying assumption was somebody else was going to come along, that I was going to get married. I'm not sure that I ever consciously abandoned that.""When the relationship with Colin was over, my underlying assumption was somebody else was going to come along, that I was going to get married. I'm not sure that I ever consciously abandoned that."
At some point in her forties, Ms Widdecombe said she started to feel it was "quite nice being on my own" and she didn't mind she hadn't married.At some point in her forties, Ms Widdecombe said she started to feel it was "quite nice being on my own" and she didn't mind she hadn't married.
"By my fifties I was saying, 'oh yes I prefer this'. Now I can tell you if Mr Right came in, I'd repel all borders. I tell you, I really would." "By my fifties I was saying, 'oh yes I prefer this'. Now I can tell you if Mr Right came in, I'd repel all boarders. I tell you, I really would."
She added: "I never fell in love again, no. I'm not saying that I didn't occasionally look at a man and think yes, you know, you're rather fun. But, no, I never fell in love again."She added: "I never fell in love again, no. I'm not saying that I didn't occasionally look at a man and think yes, you know, you're rather fun. But, no, I never fell in love again."
Reflecting on the current political scene, Ms Widdecombe suggested the party leaders had not had to work hard enough to get to the top, and she had spent her first few years as an MP simply "finding her feet".Reflecting on the current political scene, Ms Widdecombe suggested the party leaders had not had to work hard enough to get to the top, and she had spent her first few years as an MP simply "finding her feet".
"The fact that David Cameron managed to become leader four years after entering Parliament I think was not a good thing. And that's not a personal criticism of David, that's an observation of the system.""The fact that David Cameron managed to become leader four years after entering Parliament I think was not a good thing. And that's not a personal criticism of David, that's an observation of the system."
But she praised one of the most senior women in the Cabinet. "I have a huge respect for Theresa May who I think has come on in huge leaps and bounds and is now a very impressive performer at the despatch box."But she praised one of the most senior women in the Cabinet. "I have a huge respect for Theresa May who I think has come on in huge leaps and bounds and is now a very impressive performer at the despatch box."