British counterterrorism police have charged 28-year-old Joshua Kerry with preparing acts of terrorism targeting Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Kerry was already in custody awaiting trial for the brutal July 2026 murder of 78-year-old Reform UK spokesperson Ann Widdecombe, who was struck 21 times with a hammer. The new charges have intensified concerns over the security of British politicians, prompting Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to promise updated protections. Meanwhile, Reform UK officials argue the threat justifies Farage's controversial, undeclared £5 million security gift from crypto investor Christopher Harborne.
Terrorism charges against Joshua Kerry
- ▪The terrorism charge against Joshua Kerry relates to alleged activities conducted between May 31, 2024, and July 8, 2026.
- ▪Joshua Kerry is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on October 7, 2026.
- ▪British police and the Crown Prosecution Service charged 28-year-old Joshua Kerry of Rotherham on October 2, 2026, with one count of preparing acts of terrorism, including against Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
Controversy over Farage's security funding
- ▪Reform UK lawmakers and officials stated that the terrorism charges against Joshua Kerry demonstrate why Nigel Farage required a controversial £5 million security gift from cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne.
- ▪Nigel Farage is facing a parliamentary investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over whether he should have declared the £5 million gift from Christopher Harborne.
Murder of Ann Widdecombe
- ▪Prosecutors stated that Ann Widdecombe was struck 21 times on the head with a hammer during a targeted attack at her home on July 8, 2026, while she was eating lunch.
- ▪Joshua Kerry was charged in July 2026 with the murder of 78-year-old Reform UK spokesperson and former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe, who was found dead in her Devon home on July 9, 2026.
- ▪Joshua Kerry was arrested on July 11, 2026, two days after Ann Widdecombe's body was discovered lying face down on her kitchen floor by her gardener.
Investigation into Farage home burglary
- ▪In August 2026, police reopened an investigation into an April 2025 attempted burglary at Nigel Farage's Greater London home as part of the probe into Ann Widdecombe's murder.
- ▪Counter Terrorism Policing London referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct in August 2026 for missing an initial line of enquiry regarding the April 2025 attempted burglary at Nigel Farage's home.
Protections for politicians
- ▪British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood pledged to update Parliament on work to strengthen protections for those who choose to serve once Parliament returns.
- ▪British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed deep concern over the new charges, stating that an attack on anyone in politics is an attack on all and that the case raises serious questions about public life security.
Past political killings
- ▪Ann Widdecombe's death marks the third murder of a UK politician this decade, following the 2016 murder of Labour MP Jo Cox and the 2021 murder of Conservative MP David Amess.
- ▪Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered by a neo-Nazi sympathizer, while Conservative MP David Amess was killed by an Islamic State supporter.
Debatable claims
- ▪Private donors should be barred from funding the personal security of politicians
- ▪The UK government bears sole responsibility for protecting members of Parliament
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