Nigel Farage has been left ‘horrified’ by a ‘very serious policing error’ after officers investigating the killing of Ann Widdecombe reopened an inquiry into an attempt to firebomb his home last year.
Counter-terrorism police said they had ‘identified a line of inquiry’ about the attack which was ‘not identified and pursued… at the time’.
Mr Farage has described the incident in April 2025 as an ‘outright arson attempt’ rather than the ‘attempted burglary’ described by police.
He was not home at the time and found the damage when he returned. ‘Luckily it had burned itself out on the porch,’ he said.
Devon and Cornwall Police have faced criticism for prematurely announcing there was ‘nothing to suggest’ that the killing of Ms Widdecombe was politically motivated – only for counter-terrorism officers to take over the case days later after new evidence emerged.
Reform UK spokesman and former Tory minister Ms Widdecombe, 78, died on July 8 after she was hit over the head with a hammer 21 times at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, a court heard.
Joshua Kerry, 28, was charged with her murder and has been remanded in custody.
Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) said it had referred itself to the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over the matter.
Nigel Farage lays flowers at Dartmoor National Park near the home of former government minister and Reform UK party member Ann Widdecombe
Ann Widdecombe addresses the final event of the Brexit Party’s ‘We are Ready’ tour in 2019
Police officers outside the house of Ms Widdecombe in Haytor on July 11, 2026
A source close to Mr Farage said: ‘There has been a very serious policing error, which is why counter-terror have referred themselves to IOPC. While Nigel won’t make a statement, he has been horrified by the ordeal.’
It came as Mr Farage and his deputy, Richard Tice, said they were suing the National Crime Agency over what they claimed was an illegal leak of their financial information.
They lodged papers at the High Court last week, seeking damages of more than £25,000, following a series of damaging media stories about Reform’s finances.
These included disclosures about an undeclared £5million donation to Mr Farage by crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne – which Mr Farage said was to pay for security – an £80,000 loan to Mr Tice from George Cottrell, a Farage aide, and a £1million donation from Mr Cottrell’s mother to a think-tank run by Mr Tice.
The articles prompted the Reform leader to resign as MP for Clacton, forcing the by-election to be held on Thursday.
Mr Farage and Mr Tice claim that only the NCA could have been in possession of all of the leaked information.
The Mail on Sunday revealed in July that Reform UK MPs were being given security protection after Ms Widdecombe’s death.
Mr Farage said: ‘I fear that for anybody in public life, or especially the political space, things have become more dangerous.’
Vicki Evans, senior national co-ordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, said: ‘As part of the ongoing investigation led by Counter Terrorism Policing South East into the murder of Ann Widdecombe, officers have reopened an investigation into an incident reported to police last year.
‘Given the nature of this matter and the interest in the investigation into Ann Widdecombe’s death, it was of critical importance for us to provide this update.’
An IOPC spokesman said: ‘We can confirm the IOPC has decided to investigate the conduct of a Counter Terrorism Policing London staff member following a referral received earlier today.
‘The conduct relates to an allegation the individual failed to identify and pursue a line of enquiry relating to an attempted burglary reported in April 2025.’
