Happy freedom day! Yes, that’s right – after more than a month closed, the Strangers’ bar in the Palace of Westminster has today finally re-opened. Peers and MPs piled in to celebrate the return of their beloved watering hole. But, alas, already there are reports that Strangers’ will no longer be the fleshpot, following allegations of a spiking incident.
First, there was PoliticsHome reporting that new rules means that the bar will now have a maximum capacity of 50 with a doorkeeper using a tally counter and unaccompanied guests being kicked out after 15 minutes. And this evening Mr S brings more sad news: pass readers are going to be positioned on the bar for the purpose of identity verification for those purchasing drinks for MPs and those buying drinks. Heresy!
Already, there is a furious backlash underway from the regular clientele of Strangers. One MP called the move ‘Orwellian’ and fumed that it was ‘a symbol of all that’s going wrong in this place’.
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