Ann Widdecombe is going to be a candidate for the Brexit party in next month's European elections.

The former Strictly contestant was a member of David Cameron's shadow cabinet and has been a Conservative for 55 years.

Writing in the Express, she says she's standing for Nigel Farage's party because Theresa May's handling of Brexit has been "hopelessly inadequate".

Formerly the Tory MP for Maidstone and The Weald, Miss Widdecombe will be running for the seat in the South West where she now lives.

"I've been coming to this decision for some time," she said. "I met with Nigel Farage yesterday about it.

"I think the Brexit Party's chances are very good. Pretty much everybody is fed up with the current situation.

"What the party aims to do is send a shock wave across the other parties. The nation has had enough.

"I'm looking forward to getting some sense into the awful situation and being part of what I think is a solution."

Nigel Farage tweeted this morning about the move saying "I welcome Ann Widdecombe as our lead candidate in the South West, the Brexit Party is a stronger alliance as a result. This is great news."

In her Daily Express article, Miss Widdecombe said the "last thing" she wanted was "a full-on return to the political fray" but needed re-affirm "the supremacy of the will of the people".

She did however, also add that she would be voting Conservative in the upcoming local elections on Thursday, May 2.

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