Man arrested over fire at Labour MP's office

A fire broke out at Sharon Hodgson's Washington office in the early hours

A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a fire at a building containing the office of Labour MP Sharon Hodgson.

A blaze broke out at the Washington and Gateshead South MP's constituency office in Vermont House, Concord, Washington, just after midnight, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) said.

The man in his 20s was also arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and remained in police custody, Northumbria Police said.

The spokesperson for Hodgson said she "will not be deterred and will continue to support her constituents".

Images also show graffiti on the side of the building which reads "328 days blood on ur [sic] hands," but it is believed to have been there for around a year.

A Labour source confirmed there had been a number of incidents of vandalism at Hodgson's office recently, including smashed windows.

"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," the spokesperson said.

"Sharon will not be deterred and will continue to support her constituents in Washington and Gateshead South as she does day in, day out."

A spokesperson said Sharon Hodgson would not be deterred

Northumbria Police urged anyone with information to contact the force.

TWFRS sent seven appliances to the fire and no causalities were reported.

Labour councillor Phil Tye, chair of TWFRS, 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."

As well as the MP's office, charities and businesses operate out of Vermont House.

The charity Niemann-Pick UK (NP UK), which supports patients and families with rare and life-limiting genetic diseases, said it had been told there is "not much left".

NP UK's head of communications John Taggart said: "We've been in operation for 34 years and it is going to be really hard to recover.

"This is a vital service and we are a small charity."

OpCourage North The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service also works out of the building, as well as a wedding dress shop.

OpCourage said its face-to-face appointments had been moved to remote consultations or alternative locations, and it would be using a hospital site as a temporary base from Monday.

On social media, Rare Bridal Studio said its studio was unaffected by the fire but it was unable to access the unit due to the active crime scene, meaning it had to postpone appointments with customers.

The fire service said it sent seven appliances to battle the blaze

Hodgson has served as MP for the area since 2005, when she was elected to the former Gateshead East and Washington West constituency.

She won the new Washington and Sunderland West seat in 2010 following boundary changes, keeping the seat until 2024 when she was elected to the new Washington and Gateshead South constituency.

During a question at the House of Commons earlier, Labour MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East Andy McDonald said: "I'm sure I speak for the whole House in sending our best wishes to our colleague in Washington and Gateshead South for the appalling fire at her office overnight, and send our very best wishes to her and her staff."

Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty said: "I think particularly in light of international events, and the tragic loss of colleagues, this all the more underlines why we must have security and safety to go about democratic debate in this country, whatever our views, in a safe and secure way."

Additional reporting by PA Media.