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Police have launched an investigation into a fire that occurred at Sir Keir Starmer's north London residence in the early hours of Monday morning. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) was called to the property on Countess Road in Tufnell Park at approximately 1:35 AM following reports of a blaze.
The four-bedroom house, believed to be worth around £2 million, is currently being let out by the Labour leader. Firefighters successfully extinguished the fire, and while the entrance of the terraced house sustained damage, thankfully no injuries were reported.
A Downing Street spokesperson acknowledged the incident, stating, "The Prime Minister thanks the emergency services for their work. The incident is subject to a live investigation and we won’t be commenting further."
A Scotland Yard spokesman provided further details: "On Monday, May 12 at 01:35hrs, police were alerted by the London Fire Brigade to reports of a fire at a residential address in Countess Road, NW5. Officers attended the scene. Damage was caused to the property’s entrance, nobody was hurt. The fire is being investigated and cordons remain in place while enquiries continue."
Neighbours recounted their experiences of the early morning incident. One resident, a 58-year-old technology worker who wished to remain anonymous, reported being awakened by a "loud noise" around 2 AM. "I looked out of the window and saw flashing lights and heard police sirens," she said. "There’s been lots of forensics outside all day. It seems like they’re taking it very seriously."
Another neighbour, Kenji, noted the quiet nature of the emergency response, stating, "I saw the blue sirens as I turned the light off. No noise, no bangs, no sirens. It was a really quiet affair. Very discreet." Kenji also mentioned a recent car fire last week with graffiti reading "Stop Arming Genocide," but it remains unclear if the two incidents are related. Notably, Labour MP David Lammy's home was recently targeted by pro-Palestine activists.
The fire at Sir Keir Starmer's property is likely to heighten existing concerns regarding the safety and security of Members of Parliament. These concerns have grown significantly following the tragic deaths of two MPs in recent years: Jo Cox, who was murdered in 2016, and Sir David Amess, who was fatally stabbed in 2021. Increased safety measures have been implemented in response to these incidents.
The ongoing police investigation will aim to determine the cause of the fire at Sir Keir Starmer's home and whether it was a deliberate act. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential vulnerabilities faced by public figures and the importance of ensuring their safety and security.
