Police have arrested two men in connection with a mobile phone hidden in the House of Commons that was reportedly planted there to play sex noises during prime minister’s questions.
The phone was found near the frontbench during a routine sweep of the chamber. It is believed to have been intended to interrupt the keynote weekly showdown between Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch in September.
The police believe the phone was deliberately placed to cause disruption. A Metropolitan police spokesperson said: “At 10.25 on Wednesday 3 September a mobile phone was found during a routine search of the House of Commons chamber by Met officers.
“Enquiries led officers to believe that the phone was purposely placed in a location with the aim of causing disruption to business in the house.
“A man in his 30s was arrested on Friday 5 September on suspicion of attempting to intentionally cause a public nuisance.
“Another man in his 60s was arrested on Tuesday 30 September on suspicion of the same offence. Both have been bailed to return at a later date.”
Heightened security measures were introduced in the Commons after the phone was found. Audio and guided tours were cancelled and there was reduced access to the Commons chamber.
The House of Lords took the same decision to reduce access to the Lords Chamber “as a precautionary measure”.
“Enquiries remain ongoing and we continue to keep the speaker and clerk of the house up to date with our investigation,” the spokesperson said.
The incident is being treated seriously as it represents a major breach of parliamentary security.
The phone was found while hundreds of security staff based in Westminster were on strike over pay and conditions. As a result, visitors were banned from the parliamentary estate. The Public and Commercial Services Union said the strike went ahead because of the reduction of annual leave entitlements, stagnant pay and an ethnicity pay gap.