Joshua Kerry, a 28-year-old man from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, has been charged with the murder of Ann Widdecombe, the former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokeswoman, who was found dead with serious injuries at her home in Haytor, Devon, on 9 July 2026. Counter-terrorism police said establishing his motive, including any possible political motivation, remained an active line of enquiry, and Kerry appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. The Crown Prosecution Service said proceedings were active and warned against reporting that could prejudice a fair trial.

Kerry was first arrested on suspicion of murder on 11 July, then again on 13 July on suspicion of terrorism offences. Laurence Taylor, head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing, said the investigation had generated more than 800 lines of enquiry, describing it as "particularly intensive and complex", though officers were not seeking anyone else in connection with the case. Widdecombe, 78, had a long political career, serving as Conservative MP for Maidstone for 23 years, holding ministerial posts under Sir John Major, later becoming an MEP for the Brexit Party and joining Reform UK in 2023; tributes following her death came from figures including Nigel Farage, Kemi Badenoch, Andy Burnham and Ed Davey.