See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy DAVID WILCOCK, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 13:58 BST, 10 August 2026 | Updated: 17:45 BST, 10 August 2026
Nigel Farage today backed counter-terrorism police but said they had made mistakes as they reopened a ditched probe into an alleged firebomb attack at his house.The Reform UK leader spoke after the Metropolitan Police and Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) referred themselves to the police watchdog over the decision to close an investigation into a 'lit incendiary device' being posted through his letterbox.The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is now investigating a CTP London staff member after the 'attempted burglary' case reported in April last year was closed with no arrests made.Officers are now reassessing the case in relation to the murder of former Conservative and Reform politician Ann Widdecombe at her Devon home in July. Speaking at a press conference on law and order, Mr Farage said: 'Clearly, counter-terrorism made some mistakes, which is why they referred themselves to the IOPC.'I understand this is a completely unprecedented move, and yes, this is directly linked to the murder of Ann Widdecombe, and I'm afraid I just can't tell you any more than that at this stage.'The Reform UK leader added: 'It's a great, great tragedy that it took the death of Ann for the security services in Britain to finally take seriously the safety and security of Reform politicians and Reform prominent figures.'Up until that moment, we had been treated very differently to everybody else.' Nigel Farage spoke after the Metropolitan Police and Counter Terrorism Policing referred themselves to the police watchdog over the decision to close an investigation into a 'lit incendiary device' being posted through his letterbox Officers are now reassessing the case in relation to the murder of former Conservative and Reform politician Ann Widdecombe at her Devon home in JulyAsked by reporters if he still has confidence in the police, he stressed that he does but said the CTP would be 'very scared of what the truth is when it comes out'.He added: 'Do I have confidence now? Yes.'The fact that counter-terrorism have been honest enough to say, "Mr Farage, when it came to the incident that happened to you in April 2025", to publicly admit they got it wrong and to refer themselves to the IOPC.'Now they're obviously very, very scared of what the truth is when it comes out.'But the fact they've done that shows you they're not trying to cover up, they're not trying to ignore, and I have to say, I have met Laurence Taylor (the head of Counter Terrorism Policing), and I did feel a great, great confidence in it.'
