Parliament bar to re-open after drink-spiking allegation

Parliament's astir celebrated bar, Strangers, is to re-open aft being closed past period pursuing a drink-spiking allegation.

The bar, utilized by MPs and their guests, peers, parliamentary unit and governmental journalists, was closed connected Monday 20 January.

Sky News understands it is present apt to re-open aft Parliament's half-term recess, connected Monday 24 February, meaning it volition person been unopen for 5 weeks.

The determination to re-open was taken astatine a concealed gathering of the House of Commons Commission, chaired by Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

"The committee volition beryllium providing an update shortly," a root told Sky News. That update could travel arsenic aboriginal arsenic aboriginal this week.

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The barroom was closed aft a parliamentary researcher complained her portion had been spiked. The pistillate told barroom unit and information unit the portion had been tampered with.

The alleged incident, said to person taken spot astatine astir 6.30pm connected Tuesday 7 January, successful the archetypal week aft Parliament returned from recess, prompted a constabulary inquiry.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed an probe had been launched and the unfortunate was being supported. No arrests person been made, however.

The determination to adjacent the barroom was taken by Sir Lindsay, successful consultation with the clerk of the House, Tom Goldsmith, and the manager of parliamentary security, Alison Giles.

Announcing the closure connected Friday 17 January , a House of Commons spokesperson said: "Strangers' Bar volition adjacent from Monday 20 January portion information and information arrangements are reviewed.

"The information of everyone connected the property remains a cardinal precedence of some Houses."

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It has been reported that 1 effect of the reappraisal volition beryllium CCTV cameras being installed successful the bar. Another imaginable result is changes to who is eligible to usage the bar.

The House of Commons Commission is Parliament's astir elder rule-making committee. It is made up of 7 MPs, including the Speaker, and 4 laic members.

The different MPs are Commons Leader Lucy Powell, the Tories' shadiness person Jesse Norman, Labour MPs Rachel Blake and Nick Smith, erstwhile Tory furniture curate Steve Barclay and Lib Dem MP Maria Goldman.