A 28-year-old man accused of murdering former British MP Ann Widdecombe has been charged with preparing acts of terrorism, including alleged activity targeting Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, adding a terrorism investigation to a case that has already shaken British politics.
Joshua Kerry, from Rotherham in South Yorkshire, was charged on Friday with one count of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts under the Terrorism Act 2006. Counter Terrorism Policing said the alleged activity took place between May 31, 2024, and July 8, 2026.
The Crown Prosecution Service authorised the charge after reviewing evidence gathered during a lengthy counterterrorism investigation. Kerry is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on October 7.
Authorities have provided few details about the alleged terrorism-related conduct and have not disclosed the specific actions they say were directed against Farage.
Kerry was already facing a murder charge over the death of Widdecombe, 78, who was found dead at her home in Devon on July 8. Prosecutors have alleged that she was struck repeatedly with a hammer.
Widdecombe was a Conservative MP for Maidstone from 1987 to 2010 and later became a prominent figure associated with Reform UK. Her death prompted renewed concerns over the security of politicians in Britain, particularly after two serving MPs, Jo Cox and David Amess, were killed in separate attacks in 2016 and 2021.
The new terrorism charge also places renewed attention on previous security concerns surrounding Farage.
Counter Terrorism Policing reopened an investigation in August into an alleged firebomb attack at Farage’s south London home. Police had initially investigated the incident as an attempted burglary and closed the case without making an arrest. After the investigation was reopened, officers identified a line of inquiry they said had not previously been pursued.
Farage has said that an incendiary device was pushed through the letterbox of his home and described the incident as an arson attempt. He was not at the property at the time.
The authorities have not publicly established a connection between that incident and the new terrorism charge against Kerry.
The latest development has prompted renewed scrutiny of security arrangements for political figures. Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice said Farage had repeatedly raised concerns about threats to his safety and argued that the case showed the seriousness of those concerns.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the new charges were deeply concerning and that an attack against anyone involved in politics represented a wider threat to democratic life.
The case comes amid heightened attention to political violence in Britain. The murders of Cox and Amess led to major reviews of the protection provided to elected representatives and intensified debate over threats directed at politicians.
Counter Terrorism Policing said the investigation into Kerry had involved detectives, analysts and forensic specialists working across multiple lines of inquiry. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans described it as an intensive and complex investigation.
The Crown Prosecution Service has stressed that the terrorism charge is an allegation, not a finding of guilt. Kerry remains entitled to a fair trial, and the evidence against him will ultimately be tested in court.
The latest charge means investigators are now examining two serious strands of alleged criminal activity involving a prominent former politician and a serving political leader. The full nature of the alleged terrorism preparations, and whether they were connected to the attack on Widdecombe or other incidents, is expected to emerge through the court process.
