The National:

BORIS Johnson has been talking a lot about his "positive" and "modern" brand of Conservative politics lately, hasn't he? He's been quick to remind us of the times he marched at London pride when he was mayor, or made it legal for UK embassies around the world to fly Pride flags.

So it should come as quite a surprise to hear him praising former Tory MP Ann Widdecombe, considering her views on just about everything don't quite fit in to that "positive" or "modern" category. 

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Last night, during the last planned Tory leadership debate between Johnson and Jeremy Hunt, the moderator asked how realistic the men's plan to leave the EU by October 31 was. 

Johnson responded: “They have all sorts of reasons, I think, of wanting to get this thing over the line. They don’t want to have the Brexit Party continuing to occupy the airwaves in Strasbourg the way that they are, the largest single group, you know – Ann Widdecombe is fantastic, but you know, there’s a limit to the amount they want to hear from  her in the EU.”

The National:

Fantastic? Let's refresh our memories, shall we? Here's some of Ann's Greatest Hits throughout her long political career:

1) In the late 90s, Widdecombe defended the shackling of pregnant women prisoners while they were taken for hospital visits to prevent escapes. Opposition parties at the time understandably called this "degrading" and "unnecessary", but Widdecombe said: "We remove restraints when treatment has commenced or, in the case of pregnant women, when labour is confirmed.

"The Prison Service has a duty of care to the mother, but this must be balanced against the needs of the service to keep all prisoners, including pregnant women prisoners, in secure custody."

2) In 1992, Widdecombe left the Church of England because they had installed female priests. She said it was "theologically impossible to ordain women" and instead joined the Catholic church. She has been unrepetant over the decision for many years.

3) Also in the 1990s, Widdecombe was Pensions Secretary, and helped to implement a range of changes to the system that would later see the pension age of 1950s-born women rise by 2020. When the time came for the change to affect the women, many criticised the policy, claiming the roll-out had been inefficient and their retirements had been "robbed" as a result. Did Widdecombe apologise? Did she back down? Of course not. During a TV documentary about the changes, she instead called one of the campaigners against the change "self-indulgent and entitled". 

The National:

4) Throughout Widdecombe's career, she has voted against gay rights and equality reforms at every opportunity. Not only has she defended the use of gay conversion therapy - she rejected Section 28 repeal, same-sex adoption, civil partnerships and the equal age of consent. Ann also thinks science may "produce an answer" to being gay one day. 

Doesn't fit in so well with Boris' apparent passion for Pride. 

5) Both Johnson and Hunt have done their best to backtrack over the Donald Trump/NHS/US trade deal fiasco, insisting the health service is not up for sale. But as shadow health secretary during the Blair years, Widdecombe said private health insurance is the only way to ensure quality healthcare.

6) After leaving the Tories and joining the Brexit Party, the controversy has just kept on coming for Ann. Earlier this month, she was criticised for comparing Brexit to slaves rising up "against their owners" during her maiden speech at the European Parliament. Might want to take a little history lesson there, Ann.

READ MORE: Ann Widdecombe under fire for Brexit slavery comparison

So, there you have it. That's the Ann Widdecombe that Johnson thinks is so fantastic. 

And this is the man who looks set to be the next leader of the UK.