Grave breach of Commons security
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, Sylvia Heal, has announced that there will be an investigation into Commons security following a breach during the hunting debate.
Around five protestors broke into the debating chamber this afternoon and harangued the Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael.
The men were quickly followed by security staff and were later seen being arrested. It is not yet known how the men gained access to the Commons.
Giving further details later, the Speaker, Michael Martin, said that he is “gravely concerned” about the breach. Responding to questions from MPs this evening, Michael Martin said that he had instructed the Searjeant at Arms to provide extra security for the chamber and to close the public gallery.
“The safety of members and the security of this House must be uppermost in my mind,” the Commons was told.
He would meet the Searjeant at Arms at 6.15pm and would report back to the House as soon as possible, he added.
A number of MPs are, however, calling for a full ranging new inquiry into Commons security rather than just a limited investigation into the specific incident.
The security breach is bound to reopen serious questions about security, coming only a few days after a Fathers 4 Justice protester broke the security ring around Buckingham Palace.
Earlier this year, another Fathers 4 Justice protestor threw coloured flour at the Prime Minister whilst in the chamber, causing a wide ranging security review to be initiated.
Following the interruption, the debate was suspended at 16.22 before it resumed at 16.40.
Upon its resumption, a number of MPs demanded that the time taken on the suspension should be added onto the scheduled time for the debate. This request was rejected by the Deputy Speaker who said that there would be no additional time, as she was bound by the earlier procedural vote.
Commenting on the breach, the Liberal Democrat’s home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten, called for the police to take over full control of Commons security. Traditionally the Commons has been in charge of its own security.
Speaking just after the incident, he said: “This is the final straw. We don’t want to hear that more lessons need to be learnt and more reports produced.
“Managing this internally has now failed, it’s time for the Metropolitan Police to be given overall responsibility for House of Commons security.”
