BREXIT Party MEP Ann Widdecombe was condemned by MPs today for her “vile” suggestion that science might one day “produce an answer” to being gay.

The former Tory cabinet minister was asked about previous defence of gay conversion therapy during an interview on Sky.

Ms Widdecombe said she had once pointed out that there was a time when it was thought impossible for men to become women and vice versa.

She said: “The fact that we think it is now quite impossible for people to switch sexuality doesn’t mean that science might not be able to produce an answer at some stage.”

The MEP for South West England wrote in 2012 that the “homosexual lobby” was stopping people who want to turn straight from doing so.

Labour MP Luke Pollard accused Ms Widdecombe of running a “sick” anti-LGBT campaign while independent MP Nick Boles said: “If only science could produce an answer to the blight of poisonous bigotry that is Ann Widdecombe.”

Labour MP Wes Streeting said: “Ann Widdecombe is a relic from a bygone era, whose petty prejudices are out of touch with the vast majority in Britain.”

Conservative MP Justine Greening tweeted: “We don’t need a cure for love,” and Labour MP Chris Bryant warned that “every time she adds a little bit of this poison to the well another gay teenager will be bullied or harm him or herself.”

Ms Widdecombe voted against same-sex adoption, civil partnerships and in favour of banning the “promotion” of homosexuality in schools. She was also criticised for homophobic comments on Celebrity Big Brother last year.