Ann Widdecombe shows support for hospice during visit to Thornbury (From Gazette Series)

Ann Widdecombe shows support for hospice during visit to Thornbury

10:49am Monday 8th March 2010 in

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CONSERVATIVE MP Ann Widdecombe has been in Thornbury giving her support to local cancer charity St Peter’s Hospice.

The once senior Tory politician met with members of the St Peter’s Hospice Severnside Support Group to help celebrate the group’s 25th anniversary.

In the last 25 years the fundraising group, which is made up entirely of volunteers, has raised £260,000 for the hospice through various events.

Ms Widdecombe said: "Groups like this do tremendously good work and are vital.

"When you think 30 years ago there were no hospices, they have come a long way."

Ms Widdecombe, who will be standing down as MP for Maidstone at the next election, gave a short talk to members of the support group at Thornbury Golf Club last week.

Speaking afterwards exclusively to the Gazette, Ms Widdecombe said despite her impending retirement to Dartmoor to write more novels, election day would still be busy.

"I won’t be inactive on the day, I shall be around. I am commentating for a major television station.

"Will I miss parliament? When you have been a part of something, something like parliament everyday for more than 20 years it is inevitable," she said.

Ms Widdecombe said she believed it was the Conservative Party’s year for victory, but thought it was important for the party to offer change to voters.

She said: "It is important to offer choice. If people can see no real alternative, if they think there is no real difference between the major parties, if they are being given no choice, they will not vote. Choice is vital.

"What motivates people to go out on a potentially cold, wet Thursday and vote, is if they think who they are voting for will make a difference to how the country is run."