28-year-old charged with murder of former minister Ann Widdecombe
Joshua Kerry of Rotherham has been charged with murdering former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe and will appear in Westminster Magistrates' Court, while police continue a counter-terrorism investigation.
A 28-year-old man from Rotherham, Joshua Kerry, has been charged with the murder of former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe. He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.
Widdecombe, 78, was found dead on 9 July at her home in Haytor, Devon, after sustaining serious injuries. Kerry was first arrested on suspicion of murder on 11 July and was subsequently detained on 13 July on suspicion of involvement in terrorism-related activity.
Laurence Taylor, head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing, said a statement outside New Scotland Yard that the investigation into Kerry’s motives and any broader connections is ongoing and described it as “particularly intensive and complex.” He added that investigators are not seeking any other suspects and that counter-terrorism teams have generated more than 800 lines of enquiry.
The probe is being led by Counter Terrorism Policing South East with support from Devon and Cornwall Police. Frank Ferguson of the Crown Prosecution Service’s special crime and counter-terrorism division said prosecutors have worked with police to confirm sufficient evidence for court proceedings and emphasized the defendant’s right to a fair trial, urging the public not to share information that could prejudice the case.
Widdecombe served as MP for Maidstone for 23 years, held ministerial posts in the 1990s, and later appeared on television programmes such as Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother. She was elected as a Brexit Party MEP and joined Reform UK as a spokeswoman in 2023.
Political figures, including Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Prime Minister Andy Burnham, offered condolences, describing Widdecombe as a notable public servant.