The man accused of murdering former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe harbored a "particular hostility to Reform," prosecutors alleged in court on Friday. Joshua Kerry, 28, is said by the prosecution to have held an "extreme left wing and/or anti-establishment mindset."

Prosecutors at the Old Bailey revealed that Widdecombe's murder had a "terrorist connection" as it was "politically and ideologically motivated." Last week, Kerry, who was initially charged with Widdecombe's murder in July, faced an additional charge of preparing terrorist acts.

This second charge alleges that Kerry conducted online reconnaissance of prominent individuals and institutions. He is also accused of travelling to Nigel Farage's South London home on April 19, 2025, and attempting to break in approximately 15 months before Widdecombe was killed.

Mrs. Justice Cheema-Grubb acceded to the prosecution's request to combine the two charges into a single case, stating they were "inextricably linked." Kerry appeared in court via video link from Belmarsh prison, wearing a prison-issued grey sweatshirt.

A five-week trial has been scheduled to commence on June 8 of next year, with the next hearing set for January 29. Nicholas Lumley KC, representing the defense, informed the court that Kerry is expected to contest all charges against him.

Kerry was charged in July with the murder of 78-year-old Ann Widdecombe. Widdecombe, a former Conservative Member of Parliament and spokeswoman for the Reform UK party, was discovered dead at her home in Haytor, Devon, on July 9, having sustained severe injuries. During a previous hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court in July, prosecutors stated she was struck on the head with a hammer 21 times at her home while eating lunch.

Widdecombe served as the Conservative MP for Maidstone and the Weald for 23 years and held ministerial positions in Sir John Major's government during the 1990s. She joined Reform UK in 2019. Following her parliamentary career, she participated in the BBC's "Strictly Come Dancing" in 2010 and was a runner-up on "Celebrity Big Brother" eight years later.