Police charge 28-year-old man after fire at Sharon Hodgson’s constituency office
A Labour MP’s constituency office has been completely destroyed in a suspected arson attack.
Washington and Gateshead South MP Sharon Hodgson’s office at Vermont House in Concord, Washington, Tyne and Wear, was set ablaze in the early hours of Thursday.
Aerial images reveal that the roof in one corner has been destroyed and a large part of the building has been damaged. Graffiti on a wall stated: ‘328 days blood on your hands.’
Prosecutors confirmed this evening that Joshua Oliver, 28, has been charged with arson. He is due to appear in court tomorrow.
Christopher Atkinson, of the Crown Prosecution Service, stated: ‘Our prosecutors have worked to ensure there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial and that pursuing criminal proceedings is in the public interest.’
A spokesperson for Ms. Hodgson commented: ‘We will not be providing comments or speculation while there is an ongoing police investigation. What we are clear on is that 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 every day.’
Downing Street condemned the attack, asserting that politicians should be able to conduct their work ‘freely and with confidence’.
The fire at Ms. Hodgson’s office followed ‘a number of incidents that she’s experienced,’ Liverpool, Riverside MP Kim Johnson informed the House of Commons on Thursday.
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