Farage ‘not being listened to’ on safety threats, deputy says after terror plot charge

LONDON (AP) — Anti-immigration Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage was dismissed when he reported concerns over threats to his own security, his deputy Richard Tice claimed on Saturday, following the arrest of a suspect accused of plotting a terrorist attack on Farage. Tice told the BBC that Farage had repeatedly raised his safety fears over the years, and the new charges reflect a lack of belief and acknowledgement from authorities.

Richard Tice expressed particular distress over the situation, stating that sometimes Farage's concerns are not heeded.

Joshua Kerry, 28, was charged with one count of preparing terrorist acts, including targeting Farage, the Crown Prosecution Service announced on Friday. The authorities have not disclosed further details about the charge, but counterterrorism police reopened an investigation into an alleged firebomb attack targeting Farage’s south London residence in August.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood extended her condolences to Farage and his family, emphasizing that any attack on a politician is an attack on all of us. She promised to strengthen protections for politicians once Parliament reconvenes on October 12.

Kerry had previously been charged with murder in the July 8 death of Ann Widdecombe, a 78-year-old former British politician and Reform Party spokesperson. Widdecombe was found dead in her home in a remote village in southwest England. Widdecombe was widely known for her socially conservative views, her outspoken critiques of abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, and her later appearances on reality TV shows.

Her murder reignited discussions about the security of politicians, which had been tightened in recent years following the murders of two prominent MPs: Jo Cox in 2016 and David Amess in 2021. Tice revealed that the party had held several high-level discussions with the government regarding security measures, and authorities had started treating threats more seriously. Kerry is expected to appear in Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, facing the new charge.