A man has been charged after a threatening phone call was made to an MP.

The office of Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer reported to police that he had received an abusive and threating phone call last Wednesday (January 31).

An investigation was launched and 46-year-old James Phillips of Brampton Park Road, Wood Green, was arrested yesterday (February 6).

He has been charged both with malicious communications and with assaulting a police officer.

He is due to appear at Willesden Magistrates’ Court later today (February 7).

The charge follows a separate investigation into an arson attack at Mr Freer's office in Ballards Lane, Finchley, on Christmas Eve.

A man and a woman have been remanded in custody after being charged with arson with intent to endanger life.

The Met's investigation established the offence was not a hate crime and the two incidents are not believed to be linked.

Mr Freer has said he will stand down at the next election after a series of death threats and the arson attack.