Disturbing Drink Spiking Incident Sparks Investigation in Parliament's Strangers' Bar

Police are currently investigating a troubling report of drink spiking involving a woman at the Strangers’ Bar, located within the Houses of Parliament. The incident took place in the early evening of Tuesday, January 7, shortly after Parliament resumed following the festive break. The victim, a parliamentary researcher, alerted bar staff and security about her drink being tampered with around 6:30 PM. The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that they are looking into the matter, although no arrests have been made yet.

A spokesperson for UK Parliament acknowledged the occurrence, stating that it is under investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service. Mike Clancy, the general secretary of the Prospect trade union, expressed concern over this incident and emphasized the importance of ensuring that parliamentary staff feel safe in their work environment. He highlighted that this alleged spiking is particularly alarming given the ongoing issues related to behavior within Parliament.

In light of recent events, prior to the Christmas recess, Labour MPs had advocated for tighter regulations on the sale of alcohol in Parliament during working hours, aimed at addressing the institution’s culture of heavy drinking—often cited as a contributing factor to various complaints and breaches of conduct.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper responded to the case, condemning drink spiking as a serious crime with long-lasting consequences for victims, and reinforced the government’s commitment to combat violence against women and girls through proposed legislation in the Crime and Policing Bill. This incident has prompted renewed scrutiny of safety and conduct within the parliamentary context.