Bullet-proof screen planned to shield MPs
A bullet-proof glass screen in front of the Strangers’ Gallery in the House of Commons is one of the measures being considered to protect MPs following a review of Westminster security.
The barrier, placed in front of the public gallery, would shield politicians from a potential terrorist attack. It would be similar to partitions used to protect tellers in high street banks.
Voters would still be able to see and hear MPs in the chamber on loudspeakers.
The move would be in addition to existing precautions such as X-ray machines, which may not be able to detect explosives in liquid or plastic form or weapons made mostly of plastic.
Parliamentary authorities have refused to respond to the report in the Sunday Times on the security plans.
The risk to MPs’ safety came to the fore after the publication of the Hutton Report two weeks ago, when demonstrators in the public gallery disturbed a Commons debate shouting slogans such as “whitewash” and “no more illegal wars”.
Contractors have already been secured to carry out work on fortifying the chamber during the Easter recess.
