The man accused of murdering former politician Ann Widdecombe has now been charged with preparing terrorist acts — including against Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. British counter-terrorism police charged Joshua Kerry, 28, on Friday, in a dramatic escalation of one of the UK's most closely watched cases.
The charge
Kerry was charged with one count of preparation of terrorist acts, relating to alleged activity between May 31, 2024 and July 8, 2026. Chief Crown Prosecutor Frank Ferguson said prosecutors were satisfied there is "sufficient evidence to bring this case to court." Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans called it "the result of the tireless work of investigators across the Counter Terrorism Policing network." Kerry, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, is due at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, October 7.
The Farage link
In April, Farage revealed that a lit incendiary device had been pushed through his letterbox — an incident initially investigated as attempted burglary and closed without arrests. Counter-terrorism police have since reopened that probe, identified a line of inquiry missed in the original investigation, and referred the force to the police watchdog. Farage told reporters the firebombing was "directly linked to the murder of Ann Widdecombe," adding: "there are huge dangers in this job."
The Widdecombe case
Widdecombe, 78, a former Conservative minister and Reform UK figure, was found dead at her Devon home in July. Kerry was arrested on July 11 — over 200 miles from the scene in Dartmoor — and charged with murder. Prosecutors allege he entered through the front door and struck her repeatedly on the head. Over 800 lines of inquiry were opened, and police have kept the question of political motivation under active investigation. A provisional murder trial date is set for June 8, 2027, at the Old Bailey.
The takeaway: what began as a murder case has become a national-security investigation — and the courts will now decide whether one man targeted two of Britain's most prominent right-wing figures.
Watch: Widdecombe murder suspect appears in court for first time (Sky News)