Police are investigating whether the man charged with the murder of Ann Widdecombe is linked to an alleged arson attack on Nigel Farage. Counter-terrorism officers have reopened the inquiry into an incident in which a lit incendiary device was put through the letterbox of the Reform UK leader's house last year.
Joshua Kerry, 28, was charged with the former MP's murder after she was hit over the head with a hammer 21 times at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon, in July. The police are now looking at whether there is a connection between Kerry and the alleged firebomb attack on Mr Farage's home, The Times reported.
Reopened inquiry
After the year-old probe was reopened, counterterrorism police said they had identified a line of inquiry that “was not identified and pursued by them at the time” which “may have been relevant”. Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London has also referred itself to the police watchdog.
The investigation into the "attempted burglary" in April 2025 by the Met Police and CTP London had previously been closed with no arrests made.
Farage responds
Asked about the probe at a press conference yesterday, Mr Farage said: “Clearly, counter-terrorism made some mistakes, which is why they referred themselves to the Independent Office of Police Conduct.
“I understand this is a completely unprecedented move, and yes, this is directly linked to the murder of Ann Widdecombe, and I’m afraid I just can’t tell you any more than that at this stage.”
The Reform leader added: “It’s a great, great tragedy that it took the death of Ann for the security services in Britain to finally take seriously the safety and security of Reform politicians and Reform prominent figures.
“Up until that moment, we had been treated very differently to everybody else.”
Asked if he still has confidence in the police, he said: “Do I have confidence now? Yes.
“The fact that counter-terrorism have been honest enough to say, ‘Mr Farage, when it came to the incident that happened to you in April 2025’, to publicly admit they got it wrong and to refer themselves to the IOPC.
“Now they’re obviously very, very scared of what the truth is when it comes out.
“But the fact they’ve done that shows you they’re not trying to cover up, they’re not trying to ignore, and I have to say, I have met Laurence Taylor (the head of Counter Terrorism Policing), and I did feel a great, great confidence in it.”
