Ann Widdecombe murder suspect Joshua Kerry charged with terror plot against Nigel Farage
The 28-year-old from Rotherham is accused of planning attacks on the Reform UK leader over a two-year period.
What happened
The man accused of murdering former minister Ann Widdecombe has been charged with preparing acts of terrorism targeting the Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage.
Joshua Kerry, 28, from Rotherham in South Yorkshire, was charged by the Crown Prosecution Service on Friday with one count of preparing terrorist acts. According to counter-terrorism police, the charge relates to planning that took place between 31 May 2024 and 8 July this year.
Kerry was already in custody facing a murder charge after 78-year-old Widdecombe, a prominent spokeswoman for Reform UK and former Conservative minister, was found dead on 9 July at her home in Haytor, Devon. A court previously heard she had been struck over the head with a hammer 21 times.
The political reaction
The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said the new charge raised serious questions about the safety of politicians.
"I know the new charges made today will be extremely concerning," Mahmood wrote on X, offering her sympathies to 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."
A Reform UK source said the charge justified Farage's controversial decision to accept £5 million for his personal security from a billionaire donor. The funding is currently under investigation by the parliamentary standards watchdog, but the party source said: "This is exactly why Nigel needed £5m to protect his security for life."
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, the head of counter-terrorism policing, described the charge as the result of a "hugely intensive and complex" investigation involving detectives, analysts, and forensic experts.
What happens next
The Jo Cox Foundation, established after the murder of the Labour MP in 2016, urged stronger measures to counter political intimidation. Its chief executive, Olivia Field, said violence and abuse "threaten our democracy and have no place in public life."
The charge comes after counter-terrorism officers recently reopened an investigation into an alleged firebomb attack at Farage's home in south London, which police had initially dismissed as an attempted burglary.
Kerry is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Joshua Kerry age | 28 | Counter Terrorism Policing |
| Ann Widdecombe age | 78 | Court records |
| Hammer strikes recorded on victim | 21 | Westminster Magistrates' Court hearing |
| Nigel Farage security donation | #5 million | Parliamentary standards watchdog filings |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Joshua Kerry | Suspect accused of murder and preparing terrorist acts |
| Ann Widdecombe | Former Conservative minister and murder victim |
| Nigel Farage | Reform UK leader targeted in the alleged terror plot |
