Joshua Kerry, the man accused of murdering former Member of Parliament Ann Widdecombe, has been charged with an additional terrorism-related offense involving a plot against Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Kerry, 28, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, is scheduled to appear in Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday to face the charge of engaging in conduct in the preparation of acts of terrorism.
The alleged activities linked to this charge are said to have occurred between May 31, 2024, and July 8, 2026. Authorities have not disclosed whether other individuals were targeted in the plot apart from Mr. Farage.
This development follows an incident in early 2025 when Mr. Farage reported that a lit incendiary device was pushed through the letterbox of his Greater London home. Mr. Farage was not present at the time, and he found the device had burned itself out in his porch upon returning. At the time, the Metropolitan Police and Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London classified the case as an attempted burglary and closed it without making arrests, pending any new information.
Following Ms. Widdecombe’s death in July, investigators reopened the inquiry into the incident involving Mr. Farage after identifying a previously unpursued line of inquiry potentially relevant to both cases. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is reviewing the actions of a CTP London staff member following an allegation of failure to appropriately investigate this lead.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans described the investigation as “hugely intensive and complex,” indicating that the authorities have been probing these matters for some time.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood emphasized the broader implications on social media, stating that any attack on political figures is an attack on society as a whole, and highlighted the seriousness of threats faced by public officials. Reform UK’s Nadhim Zahawi called for accountability regarding Ms. Widdecombe’s death, stressing the need for clarity if opportunities to prevent the crime were missed.
Kerry was initially charged with the murder of Ann Widdecombe, whose body was discovered at her home in Haytor, Dartmoor, Devon, on July 20. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death and the associated terrorism allegations remains ongoing.
