Speaker announces interim security arrangements
The Speaker of the House of Commons has announced a tightening of security arrangements in Parliament.
The new restrictions come in response to last week’s incident where flour bombs were thrown at the Prime Minister.
The two men arrested over the incident at Prime Minister’s Questions last Wednesday were invited by a peer so were not sitting behind the new security screen.
Michael Martin told the House of Commons that police and intelligence services will produce an interim report on Parliamentary security to cover “matters of immediate concern” as soon as possible.
These recommendations will be considered as soon as they are received.
In the meantime only guests personally invited by the Speaker will be permitted to sit in front of the security screen separating the Public Gallery from MPs.
Previously both MPs and peers were allowed to invite guests, though the peers’ right was suspended immediately following last week’s incident.
In addition, only those with bona fide press passes will be allowed into the Press Gallery which is also unshielded.
Mr Martin told the House that: “I realise that the restrictions on access to the galleries will cause inconvenience for some members, and for others, but I am sure that the House will appreciate it is in the interests of all those who work in this building that the lessons of last week’s incident are learnt and acted upon.”
