Nigel Farage is “horrified” that counter-terror police probing the alleged murder of Ann Widdecombe have reopened a year-old investigation into a “firebomb” attack at his house.
Officers said the incident, which The Telegraph described as a “lit incendiary device” being posted through the Reform UK leader’s letterbox, happened at an address in Greater London and was reported in April 2025.
The Metropolitan Police and Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London said they investigated an “attempted burglary”, but no arrests were made at the time and the case was closed pending any new lines of inquiry.
Mr Farage, who was not home at the time of the attack and found the damage when he returned home, earlier described the alleged attack as an “outright arson attempt”.
“Luckily it had burned itself out on the porch,” he told The Telegraph in April this year.
Reopening their probe, CTP London said they had identified a line of inquiry “which may have been relevant” but was “not identified and pursued by them at the time”.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), is now investigating the “conduct” of a CTP London staff member, following an allegation that the employee “failed to identify and pursue a line of inquiry” related to the attempted burglary.
The Independent understands that Mr Farage is “horrified” that the attack on his home in 2025 is being reinvestigated by detectives investigating Ms Widdecombe’s murder.
A source said: “There has been a very serious policing error which is why counter terror have referred themselves to IOPC, which is unprecedented.”
Reform UK spokesperson and former Tory minister Ms 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 heard.
Joshua Kerry, 28, was charged with her murder on 20 July. He has not yet entered a plea and has been remanded in custody until his next court appearance.
Reform UK MPs were given round-the-clock security protection, paid for by the party, after Ms Widdecombe’s death over fears of similar attacks.
Mr Farage has previously raised concerns about MPs’ security, including his own, and said after her death: “And I do fear that for anybody in public life, or especially the political space, things have become even more dangerous to them.”
Confirming the reopened probe following the attack on Mr Farage’s home, senior national co-ordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, Vicki Evans, 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.
She added: “Given the nature of this matter and the significant public interest in the investigation into Ann Widdecombe’s death, it was of critical importance for us to provide this update.”
CTP London said it made a “mandatory conduct referral” to the police watchdog on Friday.
An IOPC spokesperson said on Friday: “We can confirm that the IOPC has decided to independently 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.
“Counter Terrorism Policing London has been notified of our decision, and no further information is available at this early stage.”
