Ann Widdecombe murder suspect, 28, charged with planning acts of terrorism against Nigel Farage

The man suspected of murdering Ann Widdecombe was last night charged with an alleged terror plot against Nigel Farage.

Joshua Kerry will appear in court next week charged with engaging in conduct in preparation of acts of terrorism.

The Met Police said the charge relates to activity alleged to have taken place between May 31, 2024 and July 8, 2026.

There were no further details explaining who else may have been a target, other than the Reform UK leader.

Kerry, 28, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

Mr Farage said in April that a lit incendiary device was shoved through his letterbox in greater London in early 2025 in an 'outright arson attempt' when he was not in.

He found the damage when he returned home, and 'luckily it had burned itself out in the porch', he said.

The Metropolitan Police and Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London said at the time that they investigated an 'attempted burglary' at Mr Farage's home but no arrests were made and the case was closed pending any new lines of inquiry.

Joshua Kerry, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was charged on Friday with one count of preparation of terrorist acts under the Terrorism Act 2006

The charge is said to include actions planned against Reform UK leader Nigel Farage

But CTP London re-opened the incident in the wake of Ms Widdecombe's death and said it had identified a line of inquiry 'which may have been relevant' but was 'not identified and pursued by them at the time'.

The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), is investigating the conduct of a CTP London staff member after an allegation that the employee 'failed to identify and pursue a line of inquiry'.

Announcing the new charge against Kerry, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, said: 'We have been running a hugely intensive and complex investigation for some time.

'The charge announced today is a result of the tireless work of investigators across the Counter Terrorism Policing network.

'This investigation has been led by a dedicated team of detectives, analysts, and forensic experts, working on multiple lines of enquiry, which has resulted in this very serious charge.'

Frank Ferguson, from the Crown Prosecution Service's special crime and counter terrorism division, said: 'Having carefully reviewed the evidence we have made the decision to prosecute Joshua Kerry for engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts.

'Our prosecutors have worked closely with police to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring this case to court, and we will continue working with them as their investigation progresses.'

Reacting to the news, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said her 'profound sympathies' were with Mr Farage and his family, and said the development 'raises serious questions about the security of those in public life'.

She said in a statement: 'I know the new charges made today will be extremely concerning. My profound sympathies are with Nigel Farage and his family.

'Let no one make any mistake: an attack on anyone in politics is an attack on us all.

'This case raises serious questions about the security of those in public life. We must use this as an opportunity to reset. 

'Once Parliament returns, I will update on our work to strengthen protections for those who choose to serve.'

Kerry was charged with Ms Widdecombe's murder on July 20, nine days after he was arrested when the 78-year-old's body was found at her remote property in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon.

The Reform UK spokeswoman and former Tory minister was said to have been having lunch at her home when she was attacked.

Ms Widdecombe was struck 21 times over the head with a hammer in a 'planned and targeted' attack carried out with a 'ferocity of violence' in her kitchen, prosecutors have said.

Kerry is accused of tipping her from her chair and taking a wallet out of her handbag before leaving and driving off, having only been in the house for two minutes, a court heard during a previous hearing.

A provisional murder trial date was set for next summer.

On July 8, Ms Widdecombe did not attend a pre-arranged online interview at just before 1pm, which would have been aired live on Channel 5's Matt Allwright show.

The show's production team tried to contact her through her personal assistant, who then asked the family gardener to check on her.

Prosecutors said he found the politician lying face down on her kitchen floor with a serious head injury the next day.

Ms Widdecombe, who was first elected as a Conservative MP in Kent in 1987, was a prisons minister in the 1990s and later became an MEP for the Brexit Party.

At the time of her death she was a spokeswoman on immigration and justice for Reform UK.

She also found fame outside politics with stints on Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.