Two people have been charged after a fire broke out in the shed of a Tory MP’s constituency office.

Conservative MP Mike Freer, who has represented the Finchley and Golders Green constituency since 2010, had his Ballards Lane shed damaged in a blaze on December 24.

At the time Mr Freer speculated that it could have been linked to the Israel Hamas war in Gaza because of his views on the Middle East.

The Metropolitan Police have since said this is not being treated as a hate crime.

Paul Harwood, 42, and Zara Kasory, 32, both of no fixed address, were arrested on Wednesday (January 3) and charged with arson with intent to endanger life.

They have further been charged with one count of arson without intent to endanger life relating to a fire behind a restaurant in Long Lane, at around 11pm the same night.

There were no reported injuries in either incident.

Both are due to appear at Willesden Magistrates’ Court this morning (January 4).

Following the blaze, Mr Freer told Sky News that he has been wearing a stab vest whenever he attends public events, ever since the MP for Southend West Sir David Amess was stabbed to death in 2021.

He said: "Sadly it's becoming part of the job, and it shouldn't be.

"Too many MPs have had to cope with physical threats and sadly we've seen several of my colleagues lose their lives."

Mr Freer continued: "It is difficult to take it in your stride, but it is a fundamental part of our democracy that MPs are accessible to our constituents and I wouldn't want that to change.

"Unfortunately, that goes with risks these days. I personally, like some of my other colleagues, wear stab vests if I do public events and sadly that is par for the course these days.

"And it shouldn't be, but the accessibility of MPs is a fundamental part of our British democratic traditions."

Anyone with information that could assist police is asked to call 101 or contact @MetCC  on X / Twitter and quote CAD4971/24Dec. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.