The parliamentary bar will be closed to foreigners next week while security arrangements are reviewed after the alleged spying incident.
A court spokeswoman said the House of Commons, which is located on a parliamentary estate and is frequented by MPs on weekday evenings, was closed from Monday.
“The safety of everyone in the estate remains a priority for both former houses,” the spokesman said.
The Metropolitan Police are investigating after a parliamentary investigator was told his drinking had been spiked. The woman is alerting parliamentary staff and security that her drink may be tested, according to Politico, which first reported the story.
The incident is said to have happened at a bar outsiders at around 6.30pm on January 7, the first week after parliament returned from recess.
The incident is likely to renew the debate over the sale of alcohol on the Parliamentary estate. A modernization commission set up by the Labor government and MPs from all major parties are scrutinizing proposals to improve standards and working practices in parliament.
In one parliamentary submission last year, a group of Labor MPs called for restrictions on the sale of alcohol. The council has received hundreds of recommendations across a range of reform areas and is expected to publish this evidence more fully this month.
Parliament’s official complaints authority, the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme, said the drinking culture in Westminster was “a frequent factor” fueling inappropriate behaviour.
In its 2023 annual report, the ICGS said a frequent theme in its investigations was the numerous bars of parliament, where the consumption of alcohol was “leading to disruptive behavior such as shouting and swearing”.
It’s a high-profile outsider the bars of the council and the most famous MPs. Another bar called the Woolsack, formerly the Sports and Social Club, is frequented by MPs and has undergone a rebrand after becoming known for a series of brawls and scandals. There is also a bar in the master’s dining room and there are several dining rooms that serve alcohol.
The government has vowed to launch it as part of a broader effort to tackle violence against women and girls, including establishing a special criminal offense and targeting staff and police.
Spiking typically involves putting alcohol or drugs into someone’s drink without their knowledge or permission. He can also inject some drink or drugs, and add it to food, vapes or cigarettes.
Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, described it as “a disturbing and serious crime which can have a damaging and long-lasting impact on victims”.
Ministers announced before Christmas that around 10,000 rods were being set up in England and Wales to stop spotting and spiking.
The FDA union, which represents civil servants and professionals in the public sector, said earlier this week that the alleged incident at Aliens was “reprehensible” and urged parliamentary authorities to “assess the risks and take immediate action to prevent it from happening again.”
Mike Clancy, general secretary of the Prospect trade union, said: “It is a matter of great concern, particularly the long history of allegations about behavior in Parliament.
“We will require more information on this matter and will work to ensure that parliamentary staff can feel safe in their prison.”