High profile Tory on list at Widdecombe suspect’s home angry at not being warned

A senior Tory MP has spoken of her anger that police kept her and other serving and former MPs in the dark for months after their names were found in a dossier at the home of the man accused of murdering Ann Widdecombe. The senior Tory MP was only briefed by police on Monday that her name appeared in the list, despite claims officers knew about it shortly after the arrest of Joshua Kerry in July. More than 100 serving and former MPs from across several parties were named on the list. They are described as generally holding ‘socially conservative’ views. Shorts Kerry, 28, appeared at Westminster Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday charged with a terror plot against Nigel Farage. The court was told Kerry is alleged to have carried out online reconnaissance of “prominent people and institutions” between 31 May, 2024, and 8 July this year, including Farage. The court heard the Reform UK leader’s partner, Laure Ferrari, discovered her main front door had been damaged on 20 April last year. She found part of the wooden door frame was hanging off and a bottle of lighter fluid was found in the porch. A list of more than 100 high-profile individuals, including the name of a former senior Cabinet minister, is understood to have been found at Kerry’s home. The revelation has raised fresh questions about whether police did enough to warn politicians whose names appeared in the material and whether security measures should have been put in place sooner. The MP said: “It’s outrageous that we were not told sooner.” The i Paper was first told about the possibility of a list in July. Neither police nor the Home Office responded to questions about it at the time. It was discovered during searches of the home of Kerry, 28, who has been charged with the murder of Widdecombe at her home in Devon in July, and separately with engaging in conduct in preparation of acts of terrorism, including against Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. A source familiar with the investigation said that “pieces of paper” were found all over Kerry’s home in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, which included details of “a variety of VIPs and politicians.” Prosecutor Kashif Malik told the court on Wednesday that a tool mark from a 27mm blade was found on the doorframe, and that “the inference is that an attempt was made to gain entry to (Farage’s) house”. Reform UK spokeswoman and former Tory minister Widdecombe, 78, died on 8 July after she was hit over the head with a hammer 21 times at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon, a court previously heard. After Widdecombe’s death, Reform MPs were given enhanced security arrangements. Kerry, of Byrley Road, Rotherham, was previously charged with Widdecombe’s murder on July 20. In August, counter-terror police reopened a year-long probe into an alleged attack at Farage’s home in south London. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the latest developments “raise serious questions about the security of those in public life.” She said: “We must use this as an opportunity to reset. Once Parliament returns [on 12 October], I will update on our work to strengthen protections for those who choose to serve.” Farage has previously said that he was the target of an attempted firebombing at his home in April last year. The investigation into that incident was initially treated as an attempted burglary and was later reopened by counter-terrorism officers examining the circumstances surrounding the Widdecombe investigation. Kerry is due to appear at the Old Bailey on Friday. The Met Police and Home Office have been contacted for comment.