Strangers’ Bar: A Hub of Scandal and Politics
Strangers’ Bar in the Palace of Westminster has been at the center of affairs, plots, gropes, and punch-ups for decades. It is both the best-situated and most notorious bar in the country. But incendiary new claims that an MP tried to use a date rape drug on its premises could finally give the authorities an excuse to shut the historic watering hole for ever.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is not a fan of Strangers’, having grown tired of the constant flow of scandal it produces. When Sue Gray, the then Chief of Staff to Sir Keir Starmer, allegedly asked Sir Lindsay if he could shut the bar permanently in the run-up to last year’s General Election, he listened carefully to her arguments.
The Security Review
Now the Speaker has ordered Strangers’ to close while a security review is completed into claims by a parliamentary researcher that her drink had been spiked. The Mail on Sunday understands that the suspect is an MP, although it is not known which party he represents. ‘She saw an MP’s pass, but not the name,’ a source said.
The Investigation
In addition to the police investigation, there will be an internal Commons inquiry into safety at Strangers’ overseen by Alison Giles, Parliament’s Director of Security – which many MPs fear will act as the pretext for a permanent closure. A source said: ‘Lindsay wouldn’t mind shutting it for ever, regardless of the facts of this particular case, but he knows that would not make him very popular. At the very least, it is likely to be bristling with CCTV cameras from now on and restricted to a much tighter category of passholders.’
A Long Tradition of Scandal
Strangers’ follows in a long tradition of Westminster hostelries dating back centuries to when there were three alehouses called Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory which were incinerated along with the old medieval palace when it burned down in 1834 and was replaced by the current parliament building. The frequent punch-ups in the bar can have far-reaching political consequences.
In 2012, Eric Joyce, the Labour member for Falkirk, complained loudly that the venue was ‘full of f***g Tories’, before headbutting Conservative MP Stuart Andrew and thumping his own party’s assistant whip Phil Wilson. It was an incident that set in train a domino effect which led to the election of Jeremy Corbyn** as Labour leader.
The Boozy Cross-Party Camaraderie
The boozy cross-party camaraderie can be a volatile cocktail too. When, in 2022, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner joked with Tory MPs on the Strangers’ terrace that she used her feminine wiles to distract Boris Johnson in the Commons, her words found their way into the MoS – which she then condemned as ‘sexist’ for reporting her joke, inciting a social-media storm.
Conclusion
The closure of Strangers’ Bar could have far-reaching implications for the political landscape. While the allegations of date rape drug use are serious, it remains to be seen whether the bar will ever reopen. In the meantime, the spotlight remains on the bar’s reputation and the actions of its patrons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Strangers’ Bar?
A: Strangers’ Bar is a bar located in the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the British Parliament.
Q: What is the controversy surrounding Strangers’ Bar?
A: The bar has been at the center of numerous scandals and allegations of impropriety, including claims of date rape drug use and other forms of misconduct.
Q: What is the current status of Strangers’ Bar?
A: The bar is currently closed while a security review is completed into allegations of date rape drug use. It is unclear whether the bar will reopen in the future.
Q: What is the reaction of politicians to the closure of Strangers’ Bar?
A: Some politicians, including Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, have expressed support for the closure, while others have raised concerns about the impact on the political process.
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