Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has stated that counter-terrorism police made mistakes in their handling of an investigation into a firebomb attack at his home, a probe that police have now reopened. The Metropolitan Police and Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) referred themselves to the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), over their earlier decision to close the investigation into a 'lit incendiary device' posted through his letterbox in April 2025.
Farage made these remarks at a press conference focusing on law and order. He indicated that the reopening of the case is directly linked to the murder of former Conservative and Reform politician Ann Widdecombe at her Devon home in July. "Clearly, counter-terrorism made some mistakes, which is why they referred themselves to the IOPC," Farage told reporters. He added that it was a "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." He stated that, until this point, Reform politicians had been treated "very differently to everybody else."
The IOPC is now investigating a CTP London staff member following the closure of the case, which resulted in no arrests. Officers are reassessing the April 2025 incident in light of Widdecombe's death.
When asked about his confidence in the police, Farage affirmed that he does have confidence, but suggested that the police might be "very scared of what the truth is when it comes out." He acknowledged the honesty of counter-terrorism police in publicly admitting they "got it wrong" regarding the incident at his home and for referring themselves to the IOPC. He expressed confidence in Laurence Taylor, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing, stating that he felt a "great, great confidence in it."