Man arrested after fire at MP Sharon Hodgson's constituency office

Thursday, 11 September 2025 13:57

A man has been arrested following a fire at the constituency office of Labour MP Sharon Hodgson.

Northumbria Police said the man, in his 20s, was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and arson and remains in custody.

"Shortly after 12.20am today [Thursday], we were alerted to a fire at a premises on Woodland Terrace in the Washington area," a spokesperson said.

"Emergency services attended and no one is reported to have been injured in the incident."

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene at Vermont House, home to the Sunderland constituency office of the Washington and Gateshead South MP, just past midnight.

Drone pictures show extensive damage to the building.

"An incident occurred overnight at Sharon's office," a spokesperson for the Labour MP said.

"We will not be commenting or speculating while there is an ongoing police investigation, what we are clear on is there is no place for this kind of violence in our society.

"Sharon will not be deterred and will continue to support her constituents in Washington and Gateshead South as she does day in, day out. Constituents should get in touch with their issues by emailing in the usual way."

Ms Hodgson has been a Labour MP in the north east of England since 2005. She is also the vice chair of Labour Friends of Israel.

Chief fire officer, Peter Heath, said: "I want to commend our crews for their swift and professional response to this serious incident. Their actions ensured the fire was contained quickly and safely, with no reported casualties.

"We continue to work closely with our partners as investigations progress."

Councillor Phil Tye, chair of the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority, said: "Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident. I'd like to thank our firefighters and control staff for their dedication and teamwork during what may be a challenging investigation.

"We remain committed to supporting our communities and partners."

Sky News