A House of Commons spokesperson stated Friday: “Strangers’ Bar will shut from Monday 20 January whereas safety and security preparations are reviewed. The security of everybody on the property stays a key precedence of each Houses.”
While the consuming tradition at Westminster is a subject of fixed debate, the choice to close certainly one of parliament’s consuming institutions is very uncommon.
Another bar, often called the Sports and Social, was closed after an altercation involving two members of parliamentary workers in 2017 and has since reopened.
Jenny Symmons, chair of the GMB union’s Branch for Members’ Staff described it as “a really encouraging step,” noting that: “The House authorities have an obligation of look after the entire parliamentary neighborhood, however that is particularly essential for MPs’ workers, given the vulnerabilities we face with energy dynamics.”
Parliament is dwelling to round a dozen bars and eating places serving alcohol, a few of which date again to the nineteenth Century.
Some have known as for the sale of alcohol to be restricted on the parliamentary property in a bid to foster a more healthy working atmosphere.
Parliament’s official complaints system has described the “tradition of consuming in Westminster” as a “frequent issue” in conduct-breaching incidents by MPs and friends.