Pests overrun the House of Commons

Who’d want to work in parliament eh? The roof is leaking and the toilets don’t work, the floor is damaged and the masonry is collapse. Now, Mr S brings news of yet more bad tidings afflicting the House of Commons. It seems the place is stuffed full of vermin – talk about a perfect state-of-the nation parable. Westminster City Council’s most recent health inspection – conducted just last month – scored parliament just two out of a possible five on the National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme to show how well food businesses are complying with food law. The subsequent report, obtained under Freedom of Information laws, makes for grim reading.

Mouse droppings were found in the bulk of parliament’s catering areas including Debate, Brasserie, Bellamy’s, Banqueting, Terrace Cafeteria and the Members’ Dining kitchen. Indeed, no less than 19 separate cases of droppings were recorded, with a lack of ‘adequate monitoring’ being cited as well as a failure to clean easily accessible areas which suggests ‘that thorough daily cleaning to the structure is not taking place.’