Nigel Farage has accused counterterrorism police of making “mistakes” as detectives reopened an investigation into an alleged firebomb attack on his London home.
Officers probing the killing of Ann Widdecombe at her Dartmoor bungalow are also now looking at an April 2025 incident at the Reform UK leader’s house.
Police refer themselves to watchdog
The force has referred itself to watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct over the case.
Responding to news that police have reopened a probe, Mr Farage claimed on Monday that his party “had been treated very differently to everybody else” before the death of former MP Ms Widdecombe.
Farage comments on investigation
Mr Farage told reporters: “Clearly, counterterrorism made some mistakes, which is why they referred themselves to the Independent Office of Police (Conduct) (IOPC).
“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.”
Officers investigating Ms Widdecombe’s death said they had found a line of inquiry in relation to the alleged firebomb attack that they did not investigate at the time.
Widdecombe's death prompts reexamination
Mr Farage 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.”
Mr Farage later said: “I’m not going to say anything now to prejudice, because I do actually believe in my heart that counterterrorism are now seriously doing this job and I have confidence in them.”
