Widdecombe murder accused charged over alleged terror plot against Nigel Farage

THE man accused of murdering former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe has now been charged with preparing acts of terrorism, including against Nigel Farage.

Joshua Kerry, 28, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was charged on Friday with one count of preparation of terrorist acts, contrary to section 5(1)(a) of the Terrorism Act 2006.

Counter Terrorism Policing said the charge relates to alleged activity between May 31, 2024, and July 8, 2026.

The Crown Prosecution Service authorised the charge following what police described as an intensive and complex investigation.

Kerry is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, October 7.

Frank Ferguson, Chief Crown Prosecutor of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said prosecutors had carefully reviewed the evidence before deciding to bring the charge.

He said the CPS had worked closely with police and concluded there was sufficient evidence for the case to be put before a court.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, said investigators had been working on the case for some time, with detectives, analysts and forensic specialists pursuing multiple lines of inquiry.

Kerry has already been charged with the murder of Ann Widdecombe, the former Conservative MP and minister who later became a prominent figure in Reform UK.

Ms Widdecombe, 78, died in July after suffering serious injuries at her home in Haytor, Dartmoor, Devon.

A court previously heard allegations that she was struck on the head 21 times with a hammer in what prosecutors described as a planned and targeted attack.

Kerry is accused of travelling from Rotherham to Devon before the alleged killing.

Ms Widdecombe was found at her home on July 9 after concern was raised when she failed to appear for a scheduled interview.

Kerry was arrested on suspicion of murder on July 11. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, while police continued to investigate whether there was a political or terrorist connection.

The CPS authorised a murder charge on July 20.

The latest development comes as counter-terrorism officers are also investigating an earlier incident at a property linked to Mr Farage.

The Metropolitan Police received a report of an attempted burglary at a Greater London property in April 2025. The investigation was later reopened after Counter Terrorism Policing identified a line of inquiry which it said may have been relevant but had not been identified and pursued during the original investigation.

The matter was also referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Reform UK has raised repeated concerns about threats directed at Mr Farage and other members of the party.

The party said in July that Mr Farage had received more than 300 threats a month, including death threats. Those figures were supplied by Reform UK and have not been independently verified.

In September, Reform MP Sarah Pochin said all eight of the party’s MPs had been given 24-hour security following Ms Widdecombe’s death.

Mr Farage has previously said that a £5 million gift he received from businessman and Reform donor Christopher Harborne in 2024 was intended to pay for his personal security.

The previously undeclared gift is the subject of an investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards into whether it should have been registered under Commons rules. Mr Farage has maintained that the payment was a private gift connected to his safety and that he was not required to declare it.

Following the latest charge against Kerry, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said her “profound sympathies” were with Mr Farage and his family.

She said an attack on somebody involved in politics amounted to an attack on political life more broadly and said the case raised serious questions about protection for people in public life.

The Home Secretary said she would update Parliament on work to strengthen security arrangements when MPs return.

The latest charge does not amount to a finding of guilt.

Proceedings against Joshua Kerry are active. He has the right to a fair trial, and the allegations against him have not been proven in court.