Lucy Powell says closing Parliament bars could threaten MPs’ safety

The leader of the House of Commons has suggested closing all bars in Parliament could pose a greater security risk to MPs.

Lucy Powell said she was ready to “debate” the future of drinking venues on the parliamentary estate, after a bar was temporarily closed for a security review. Alleged drinking incident.

But he argued that if bars, restaurants, hair salons and other facilities were closed then MPs and staff would visit places outside the secure area of ​​Parliament.

he told Matt Chorley of BBC Radio 5Live Said there was “no point spending millions of pounds” on security if staff were encouraged to leave the property.

Parliament’s most famous pub, the Strangers Bar, is currently closed Police are investigating a report that a woman spiked her drink On 7th January.

Powell said she was in favor of reopening Strangers after reviewing safety measures.

“We certainly need to look at this and make sure that we have measures in place so that people are not in a situation where they feel they have been spiked or see the effects of being spiked,” Powell said. Are.”

He said he was “prepared to have a public debate on whether there should be any restrictions on property”.

But he told Matt Chorley that the entire Palace of Westminster, spread over eight acres (32,000 square metres), was not a workplace, and there were several places serving alcohol to MPs and their guests.

He said he didn’t understand there was enough support to close them.

He argued that staff members and others who “would like to drink” in the evening would “not be at work at that time”.

He said MPs would face less protection when visiting “where they have not received security protection”.

“They are not policed ​​around and they will be even less covered by the Independent Complaints and Grievances Service (ICGS), which investigates allegations of sexual misconduct and bullying by parliamentary staff.

ICGS has previously argued over Parliament’s bar and its associated culture of drinking Inappropriate behavior is encouraged in Westminster.

Parliament has increased security “with good reason” because “a lot of people are trying to attack MPs and attack Parliament”, he said.

“That’s why we provide on-property services.

“There is no point in keeping everyone safe and spending the millions of pounds we do on this property – if we can actually let people get their hair done or have lunch with a journalist outside the property. Encourage.”