British prosecutors on Monday charged a 28-year-old man with murder in connection with the death of Ann Widdecombe, a politician and reality television contestant whose body was found in her home this month.
The accused, Joshua Kerry, of Rotherham in northern England, is expected to appear in Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on Tuesday, prosecutors said in a statement.
“Police enquiries into the defendant’s motives are ongoing, including a potential political or terrorist connection,” said Frank Ferguson, chief prosecutor of the Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, in announcing the murder charge.
Ms. Widdecombe was found dead in her home in Haytor Vale in southwest England on July 9. Her body showed signs of serious injury, the authorities said. Devon and Cornwall police officials later said they believed she had been targeted and attacked around midday the day before.
Ms. Widdecombe, 78, served as a member of Parliament from the Conservative Party for more than two decades starting in 1987. In 2019, she joined the right-wing populist Brexit Party, serving as its member in the European Parliament until Britain left the European Union in 2020. From 2023 until her death, she was a spokeswoman for the party, which was rebranded as Reform U.K. in 2021.
She also appeared as a contestant in the reality TV shows “Strictly Come Dancing” and “Celebrity Big Brother.”
Mr. Kerry was initially arrested on suspicion of murder in the days after Ms. Widdecombe’s body was discovered. Days later, he was again arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, possibly in connection with left-wing extremism, but he has not been charged with any such offense at this point.
Andy Burnham, who took office as Britain’s prime minister on Monday, pledged last week that he would conduct a serious review of security for politicians in response to Ms. Widdecombe’s death. He lamented the “toxicity” of the current political debate and said that “something has changed” in British politics.
“Ann Widdecombe brought conviction, wit and personality to public life over many years,” Mr. Burnham said on social media, adding, “I hope her killer is brought to justice as quickly as possible and faces the full force of the law.”
