Westminster MP Calls For CCTV In Parliament’s Bars
2 min read
Labour’s Westminster MP has said she supports CCTV being installed in Parliament’s bars after a woman’s drink was allegedly spiked on the parliamentary estate.
In January, a parliamentary researcher reported having her drink spiked in Strangers’ Bar, one of the bars within Parliament open to MPs, their guests, journalists and staffer members.
In an interview with PoliticsHome, Rachel Blake, Labour MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, said she supports the installation of CCTV in Parliament’s bars to bring them in line with other licensed premises in her constituency.
"I would support CCTV," the Labour MP said.
"If you have a license in this constituency, there are certain checks, balances and regulations that you have to comply with. Having CCTV present is something that other licensed premises have, so I would be happy with that."
The House of Commons and the House of Lords do not hold licenses for the sale of alcohol for the bars and catering outlets within the Estate, following a court judgment which considered that Parliament could regulate its own procedures. However, both Houses comply voluntarily with licensing requirements.
On Tuesday, following publication of this article, the House of Commons Commission confirmed that the Strangers' Bar would re-open in late February with CCTV installed.
There will also be an increased security presence in the bar, covers for glassware upon request and spike awareness training for staff who want it, the Commission said.
Blake, who was elected in July, said the after-hours culture of Westminster “takes a while to get used to”, adding that newly-elected MPs have come from jobs more similar to a “9 to 5” where “the hours are more predictable.”
“The long hours culture and the ‘never quite finishing’ culture is something that nothing can really prepare you for”, she said.
While Blake said Commons Leader Lucy Powell has made “huge progress” on informing MPs of the business of the House ahead of time – announcing recess dates more in advance, for instance – Blake said the predictability of votes and the hours MPs are expected to work “could be even clearer”.
Blake, however, praised the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme, which offers newly elected MPs a one-off training course on its Behaviour Code when they come to Parliament. While the vast majority of MPs have taken the training, six MPs have not.
Blake told PoliticsHome it is “very standard” in other organisations to have “regular training” on behaviour as part of the job, and that MPs should have this training “more often”.
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
