Commons guests kept behind security screen

Published on Thursday 27 May 2004 01:00

THE guests of MPs and peers are to be denied special access to the House of Commons public galleries in the wake of the flour-bomb attack on Tony Blair.

Michael Martin, the Speaker, told MPs that only his personal guests would be allowed to sit in front of a glass security screen after the Prime Minister was hit by a purple flour-bomb thrown from the galleries last week. Previously, peers and MPs had been allowed to invite guests to sit in the three rows in front of the new screen.

Mr Martin has also suspended the right of journalists to sponsor colleagues to use the press gallery. The public will be allowed to sit in the screened-off section of the Strangers’ Gallery as normal.

The Speaker said an interim report on security at Westminster with recommendations on "matters of immediate concern" would be produced "as soon as possible".

• Guy Harrison, 36, of Sussex, was fined 600 yesterday after admitting throwing condoms filled with purple flour at the Prime Minister. His co-defendant, Patrick Davis, pleaded not guilty to the same charge. A court hearing will take place on 9 July.