British prosecutors have charged Joshua Kerry, 28, with the murder of former lawmaker Ann Widdecombe, who was found dead in her rural home on July 9. Kerry also faces charges related to terrorism, with investigators exploring a potential political motive for the attack.
Police believe Widdecombe, 78, was attacked on July 8, the same day she was scheduled to appear for a television interview but failed to do so. She was discovered the following day at her home in Haytor, a village in southwest England. Authorities have not disclosed the cause of death, only stating that she suffered "serious injuries" in what was described as a targeted and brutal assault.
"I want to make it very clear that our investigation into this individual, determining his motivations and any wider activity he may have been involved in is continuing," said Laurence Taylor, head of counter-terrorism policing for the region. "Given Ann Widdecombe’s profile and the targeted nature of the attack, determining the motivation, including any possible political motivation, remains an active avenue of investigation for our detectives."
Kerry was initially arrested on July 11 in South Yorkshire, more than 200 miles from Widdecombe's home. While in custody, new evidence led to his rearrest on suspicion of the commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism. He remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
Widdecombe served as a Conservative member of Parliament from 1987 to 2010, holding roles such as prisons minister. After leaving Parliament, she gained public recognition through appearances on reality television shows like "Strictly Come Dancing" and "Celebrity Big Brother." She later became involved with the Brexit Party and more recently with the anti-immigration Reform UK party, often appearing in media as a spokesperson.
Her death has prompted renewed concerns about the security of politicians in the UK. The country has seen previous high-profile political killings, including the 2016 murder of Labour lawmaker Jo Cox and the 2021 stabbing of Conservative David Amess. Both incidents involved attackers with extremist motivations.