Parliament bar to re-open after drink-spiking allegation
Sky News understands the famous bar is now likely to re-open after the half-term
recess, on Monday 24 February.
Chief political correspondent @joncraig [http://twitter.com/@joncraig]
Monday 10 February 2025 21:44, UK
Parliament’s most famous bar, Strangers, is to re-open after being closed last
month following a drink-spiking allegation.
The bar, used by MPs and their guests, peers, parliamentary staff and political
journalists, was closed on Monday 20 January.
[https://news.sky.com/story/parliament-bar-to-close-for-security-review-following-alleged-spiking-incident-13290840]
Sky News understands it is now likely to re-open after Parliament’s half-term
recess, on Monday 24 February, meaning it will have been shut for five weeks.
The decision to re-open was taken at a secret meeting of the House of Commons
Commission, chaired by Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
“The commission will be providing an update shortly,” a source told Sky News.
That update could come as early as later this week.
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The bar was closed after a parliamentary researcher complained her drink had
been spiked. The woman told bar staff and security personnel the drink had been
tampered with.
The alleged incident, said to have taken place at about 6.30pm on Tuesday 7
January, in the first week after Parliament returned from recess, prompted a
police inquiry.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed an investigation had been launched and
the victim was being supported. No arrests have been made, however.
The decision to close the bar was taken by Sir Lindsay, in consultation with the
clerk of the House, Tom Goldsmith, and the director of parliamentary security,
Alison Giles.
Announcing the closure on Friday 17 January , a House of Commons spokesperson
said: “Strangers’ Bar will close from Monday 20 January while security and
safety arrangements are reviewed.
“The safety of everyone on the estate remains a key priority of both Houses.”
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It has been reported that one result of the review will be CCTV cameras being
installed in the bar. Another possible outcome is changes to who is eligible to
use the bar.
The House of Commons Commission is Parliament’s most senior rule-making
committee. It is made up of seven MPs, including the Speaker, and four lay
members.
The other MPs are Commons Leader Lucy Powell, the Tories’ shadow leader Jesse
Norman, Labour MPs Rachel Blake and Nick Smith, former Tory cabinet minister
Steve Barclay and Lib Dem MP Maria Goldman.