Just hours after unveiling tough new immigration reforms, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is dealing with an unnerving personal crisis — a fire outside his former home in north London that police are treating as suspicious.
The incident has triggered a major investigation, with counter-terrorism officers now involved due to the high-profile nature of the target.
Arrest Made After Fire Damages Entrance of Starmer’s Property
In the early hours of Tuesday morning, a 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.
The arrest follows a fire that broke out just after 1am outside a property previously linked to the Prime Minister.
According to the Metropolitan Police, the front entrance of the home was damaged, but thankfully, no injuries were reported.
Authorities are investigating whether this fire — along with two others, including a car blaze on the same street just days earlier — could be part of a wider pattern.
All three incidents are currently being treated as suspicious.
Loud Bang Wakes Neighbours as Firebomb Fears Spread
Neighbours described being woken up by a loud noise that sounded like an explosion or glass shattering.
Some feared a firebomb may have been thrown into the back garden of the property, though police haven’t confirmed the use of any explosive device.
One resident told MailOnline that forensic teams had combed through gardens searching for anything that might have been used to ignite the blaze.
“It smelled of burnt stuff,” said one local. “The door and the brickwork are black and charred.
Police said it’s not extensive damage — just something that’ll need paint.”
Scotland Yard Keeping an Open Mind About Connections
Scotland Yard confirmed they are investigating multiple incidents: a vehicle fire in NW5 on May 8, the most recent house fire in NW5 on May 12, and another property fire in nearby N7 on May 11.
Detectives haven’t ruled out the possibility that these events may be linked and are still working to understand the full circumstances.
The arson investigation is being led by SO15, the Met’s counter-terrorism command — a standard move given Starmer’s profile, sources explained.
Emergency Services Respond Swiftly to Contain Blaze
The London Fire Brigade received the call at 1:11am and had the flames under control by 1:33am.
Two fire engines from Kentish Town Fire Station were sent to the scene.
Firefighters confirmed that only the exterior of the property, specifically the porch, had been affected.
While it’s not clear if anyone was inside at the time, no injuries were reported.
Photos from the scene show blackened brickwork where, just five years ago, Starmer and his wife Victoria stood clapping for NHS workers during the pandemic.
Starmer’s Family No Longer Lives There But Link Remains
Although Sir Keir and his family have since moved into an apartment at 10 Downing Street following Labour’s general election win last July, the targeted home is still registered to him.
According to official records, the property is currently being rented out.
The Prime Minister’s spokesperson thanked emergency services for their rapid response but declined to comment further due to the ongoing investigation.
Neighbours Rattled by Nighttime Chaos and Police Search
Residents on the street are visibly shaken. Sales director Cory Adshead, who lives nearby, recalled hearing sirens and seeing flashing lights from his bedroom window around 1am.
By the next afternoon, police cordons were up, and forensic teams were out in force.
“It’s weird that the one door that caught fire was Starmer’s,” Adshead said.
“But we don’t know if anyone’s living there or not.”
Other locals described the area as generally safe and were shocked by the event.
“I feel sorry if anyone has been targeted like this,” one woman, a 12-year resident of the neighbourhood, told reporters.
Immigration Reform Speech Coincides with Arson Investigation
All of this unfolded on the same day the Prime Minister was making headlines for his stern stance on immigration.
From a press conference in Downing Street, Starmer warned that the UK risks becoming an “island of strangers” and laid out a range of new measures aimed at curbing illegal immigration.
His speech echoed familiar Brexit-era language, invoking the slogan “take back control” and pledging to end the “betrayal” of relying on cheap foreign labour.
The Labour leader promised reforms that could reduce net migration by around 100,000 annually.
Key Policy Changes Include 10-Year Citizenship Wait and Tougher Visa Rules
Among the proposed changes are a longer path to citizenship — extending the wait from five to ten years — and a crackdown on loopholes that allow companies to claim false skills shortages.
Migrants would also need a university degree to qualify for a skilled worker visa, and the English language test is getting stricter.
Starmer says public sector workers and highly skilled professionals will be fast-tracked for residency, while others who contribute through work and taxes might be allowed to jump the queue.
Critics Say Starmer’s Reforms Still Fall Short
Despite the bold tone, critics — including figures from Reform UK and the Conservative Party — argue the plan lacks teeth.
They’ve called for a firm cap on migration numbers, pointing out that without one, it’s hard to hold the government accountable.
Sir Keir refused to guarantee that net migration will fall every year but promised a significant reduction by the end of this Parliament.
According to the latest Office for National Statistics data, net migration stood at 728,000 in the year to June 2024 — down 20% from a record high the previous year.
Still, many voters remain unconvinced that Labour can truly bring the numbers down.
Starmer Meets Swedish PM Amid Tensions at Home
Later in the day, the Prime Minister welcomed Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to Downing Street.
The two leaders discussed deepening cooperation and ongoing support for Ukraine.
But as Starmer focuses on international diplomacy and domestic reform, the fire outside his former home serves as a stark reminder of the risks — and personal threats — that come with high office.