The Week… Rishi Sunak has a Suella Braverman conundrum

Published

2 years ago

November 12, 2023

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Two of Westminster’s best-connected journalists, Sky News’s Sam Coates and Politico’s Jack Blanchard, guide us through their predictions of how British politics will play out over the next seven days.

In this episode, they look ahead to what could be the biggest week of Rishi Sunak’s premiership so far. The prime minister is set to resolve a conundrum about the future of his home secretary, Suella Braverman, which could potentially trigger a cabinet reshuffle.

Plus, the Supreme Court is set to announce its judgment of the legality of the government’s Rwanda policy – not to mention monthly inflation figures and Liz Truss.

Click to subscribe to Politics at Jack and Sam’s wherever you get your podcasts

Email with your thoughts and rate how their predictions play out: jackandsam@sky.uk or jackandsam@politico.co.uk

Politics

Man admits arson after major fire at MP Sharon Hodgson’s constituency office

Published

1 hour ago

September 13, 2025

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Man admits arson after major fire at MP Sharon Hodgson's constituency office

A man has admitted arson after a major fire at an MP’s constituency office.

Joshua Oliver, 28, pleaded guilty to starting the fire which destroyed the office of Labour MP Sharon Hodgson, at Vermont House in Washington, Tyne and Wear.

The fire also wrecked a small charity for people with very rare genetic diseases and an NHS mental health service for veterans.

The guilty plea was entered at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on the basis that it was reckless rather than intentional.

The Crown did not accept that basis of plea.

Oliver, of no fixed address, had been living in a tent nearby, the court heard.

Northumbria Police previously said it was “alerted to a fire at a premises on Woodland Terrace in the Washington area” shortly after 12.20am on Thursday.

“Emergency services attended and no one is reported to have been injured in the incident,” it added.

Drone footage from the scene showed extensive damage to the building.

A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.

“We have worked closely with Northumbria Police as they carried out their investigation.”

Oliver was remanded in custody and will appear at Newcastle Crown Court on Tuesday, 14 October.