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‘Deeply concerning’ report of drink spiking in Parliament bar

A parliamentary researcher reported her drink had been tampered with to bar staff at Stranger’s Bar in the Palace of Westminster on 7 January, the second day of Parliament after the festive break.

'Deeply concerning' report of drink spiking in parliament bar

The Metropolitan Police Service are investigating the alleged incident, which is said to have taken place at 6.30pm on Tuesday 7 January.

The parliamentary researcher told staff and security at Strangers’ Bar — which is open to MPs and their guests as well as parliamentary staff — that her drink had been tampered with.

A statement from the Met Police released on Wednesday said the victim was being supported by officers during the ongoing investigation, but noted that no arrests have been made “at this stage”.

Jawad Raza, national officer for the FDA trade union, which represents staff in parliament, said the alleged incident was “deeply concerning” in “a workplace for thousands of staff, with hundreds of public visitors also on-site every day.”

He urged parliamentary authorities to “take immediate action to prevent this happening again”, as reported by Politico.

Culture of drinking

Fellow union representative Jenny Symmons, chair of the GMB Members’ Staff branch in parliament, warned that “with every story of abuse that makes the headlines, there are likely to be more that go untold”.

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The “culture of drinking in Westminster” has raised alarm bells in the past with parliamentary watchdog the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS). The independent complaints system, set up to investigate complaints about the behaviour of MPs at Westminster, has described the drinking culture as a “frequent factor” in conduct-breaching incidents in the parliamentary bars.

It said that many incidents were down to the “booze culture” of Parliament bars.

“Intimidating behaviour” found in the report, which came out in 2023, was outlined to include “shouting and swearing”. The ICGS report further reveals that drinking in Westminster’s bars has led to “blurred boundaries” between personal and professional life, which the report said was at the heart of multiple complaints.

“A lack of professional boundaries resulted in incorrect assumptions being formed about acceptable behaviours,” the report said.

One unnamed former parliamentary staffer told the BBC that while Westminster’s many bars made it “a fun place to work”, they also played a part in a “toxic culture” driven by alcohol.

Ongoing investigation

The police investigation into recent drink spiking allegations is ongoing. The Met Police said in a statement: “We would encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim or witness to spiking, in any form, to contact us on 101, or 999 in emergency.

“Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

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