British prosecutors charge a man with murder in the death of former
politician Ann Widdecombe
[July 21, 2026]
By BRIAN MELLEY
LONDON (AP) — British prosecutors charged a 28-year-old man with murder
Monday in the death of former politician and reality TV contestant Ann
Widdecombe.
Joshua Kerry was charged after more than a week in custody on suspicion
of murder and acts of terror. Police are continuing to investigate his
motive, including a potential political or terrorist connection,
prosecutors said.
The death of Widdecombe, 78, a former member of Parliament, shocked the
British political world, where Widdecombe was a prominent voice for
decades. She was a blunt-speaking character known for socially
conservative views opposing abortion and the expansion of LGBTQ+ rights.
Police said they believe Widdecombe was attacked July 8. She failed to
appear that afternoon for a scheduled TV interview and was found dead
the next day in her isolated rural home in a southwest England village.
Police did not disclose a cause of death, saying only that she had
sustained “serious injuries” in what they called a targeted and brutal
attack.
“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.
“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," he said.
Taylor added that the investigation is intensive and complex, and
detectives were working through more than 800 lines of inquiry.
Kerry was arrested July 11 in South Yorkshire county in northern
England, more than 200 miles (320 kilometers) from the village of Haytor
on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, where Widdecombe was found dead
Thursday.
[to top of second column]
|
Ann Widdecombe, Brexit Party member, is interviewed after Nigel
Farage, Leader of Britain's Brexit Party, spoke on stage at the
launch of their policies for the General Election campaign, in
London, Nov. 22, 2019. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
Kerry remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in Westminster
Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.
He was originally arrested on suspicion of murder, but after finding
new evidence while he was custody, he was rearrested on suspicion of
commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.
Widdecombe was in the House of Commons from 1987 to 2010, serving in
roles including prisons minister in Prime Minister John Major’s
1990s Conservative government.
She found fame after leaving Parliament as a contestant on the
reality television shows “Strictly Come Dancing” and “Celebrity Big
Brother.”
She later joined the Brexit Party, briefly serving as a member of
the European Parliament before Britain left the European Union in
2020. Most recently, she joined the anti-immigration Reform UK
party, often appearing in the media as a spokesperson.
The killing has renewed concerns for politicians about security,
which was tightened in the past decade after the murders of two
serving members of Parliament. Labour lawmaker Jo Cox was shot and
stabbed in 2016 by a far-right extremist, and Conservative David
Amess was stabbed in 2021 by an attacker inspired by the Islamic
State group.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
