In the early hours of Monday morning, a quiet street in north-west London was shaken awake by emergency sirens, flashing lights, and the unmistakable sound of glass shattering.
The property at the centre of it all? A £2 million townhouse owned by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Around 1:11 a.m., a fire broke out at the entrance of the home, prompting a swift response from firefighters and police.
Now, the situation has escalated into a counter-terrorism investigation, with authorities treating the blaze as suspicious.
Forensics on Scene as Police Suspect Arson
Specialist counter-terror officers from Scotland Yard’s SO15 unit have been brought in to handle the investigation—standard procedure for incidents involving high-profile individuals like the PM.
Investigators are currently treating the fire as a deliberate act.
Throughout the day, forensic teams in blue and white overalls were seen combing the scene for evidence.
The focus has been the front porch area, which sustained visible fire damage.
Thankfully, the flames were contained quickly and didn’t spread inside.
The London Fire Brigade confirmed that two fire engines arrived from Kentish Town Fire Station, and the fire was fully under control by 1:33 a.m.
Neighbours Woken by Loud Bang in Early Hours
Several residents in the area described the moment they realized something was wrong.
One neighbour told The Sun that they heard a loud bang followed by what sounded like glass shattering.
“It was scary,” he said. “The whole street was cordoned off not long after.”
Sales director Cory Adshead, who lives nearby, also recalled hearing police sirens and seeing flashing lights through his window at around 1 a.m.
His wife later noticed police cordons going up between noon and 2 p.m. on Monday.
“It’s pretty weird that only one door caught fire at that time of night,” Adshead noted.
Safe Area Shaken by Unusual Incident
Locals described the neighbourhood as generally very peaceful, making the incident all the more unsettling.
One woman who has lived in the area for over 12 years said she was shocked.
“I feel sorry if anyone has been targeted in this way,” she told reporters.
Another resident said forensic officers had been at the property all day and it was clear authorities were “taking it very seriously.”
Interestingly, a car was reportedly set on fire last Wednesday just opposite the Prime Minister’s property.
It’s unclear at this point whether the two events are connected.
Prime Minister Thanks Emergency Responders
Though Keir Starmer now resides in an apartment at 10 Downing Street with his wife Victoria and their children, he still owns the north London townhouse.
According to the ministerial register, the family home is currently being rented out.
No injuries were reported, and it hasn’t been confirmed whether anyone was inside at the time of the fire.
The PM’s office released a brief statement thanking emergency services for their swift action but declined to comment further due to the ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, Starmer Pushes Tougher Immigration Plans
As news of the fire emerged, Sir Keir Starmer was in front of cameras revealing his government’s latest plan to tighten immigration rules.
Speaking from Downing Street, he warned that Britain risked becoming an “island of strangers” if immigration wasn’t brought under control.
Borrowing the familiar Brexit-era slogan “take back control,” Starmer outlined several reforms, including raising the English language requirement, requiring migrants to have a university degree for skilled worker visas, and extending the wait for UK citizenship from five to ten years.
New Measures Aim to Slash Numbers by 100,000 a Year
Under Labour’s new Immigration White Paper, migrants who work and pay taxes may be fast-tracked for residency, with preference given to public service workers and top-tier professionals.
Starmer insisted that these reforms would lead to a drop in migration numbers by the end of this Parliament.
However, he stopped short of guaranteeing a year-by-year reduction.
Currently, estimated net migration to the UK stands at 728,000 in the year to June 2024—down from a record-breaking 906,000 the previous year.
Critics Say There’s Still No Clear Target
Despite the Prime Minister’s confident tone, critics remain unconvinced.
Reform UK’s Richard Tice said the plans lack a measurable cap and accused Starmer of playing catch-up in response to voter frustration.
“There’s no target, no number that can be measured against,” Tice said on BBC Radio 4.
The Conservatives also weighed in, claiming Starmer is trying to take credit for visa reductions that were already set in motion by their reforms earlier in April 2024.
Closing Loopholes and Ramping Up Requirements
Starmer’s crackdown aims to close the so-called “skills gap” loophole that allows companies to hire cheap overseas labour under the guise of shortages.
By raising the bar across the board—from language to education—Labour hopes to reshape migration flows in a way that puts British workers first.
Still, the PM emphasized that if further changes are needed, “mark my words, we will act.”
Diplomatic Talks Continue Amid Domestic Turmoil
Shortly after unveiling the new immigration measures, Starmer met with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson at Downing Street.
The leaders discussed strengthening UK–Sweden ties and maintaining unified support for Ukraine.
The day proved to be a striking mix of domestic upheaval and international diplomacy—one defined by both a literal fire and the figurative political heat.