FORMER Prisons Minister Ann Widdecombe has said she fears Mick Philpott could enjoy the long extension to his "bone-idle lifestyle" by serving time in jail.
Ms Widdecombe, a former Conservative MP, spent a week living with Philpott as part of the ITV programme Ann Widdecombe Versus The Benefit Culture.
And, on Thursday, she said the 56-year-old's life imprisonment sentence was what she had been hoping he would receive. She said: "I welcome it. It allows the state to retain control over his release which I feel is the right thing."
She said Mick Philpott already had experience of life in jail, having had a previous conviction for attempted murder dating back to 1978, for which he served seven years in prison.
But she said she feared that whichever jail he ended up in he might be allowed to continue his work-free lifestyle.
She said: "Having been Prisons Minister I know that there are some prisons which have a work regime but they are few and far between.
"Philpott may well be idling around courtesy of the rest of us. I only hope he ends up somewhere he is forced to work."
Ms Widdecombe said she felt the 17-year sentences handed to Mairead Philpott and Paul Mosley were fair.
"People have said that 17 years was harsh for Mairead," she said. "I don't know why they are saying that.
"She killed six children. It is easy to say she was led on by Mick Philpott but she is a fully-fledged adult and knew what she was doing.
"She won't serve the full term; she'll serve half of it. And when she has comes out she could still have children, she'll be young enough. In this respect it's maybe not long enough. Either way, she got what she deserved."
Ms Widdecombe said she was doubtful as to whether time apart from her husband in prison would reform her "but she is still quite besotted with him".
