Parliament is reeling tonight as it emerges that Russian diplomats working for Putin breached the UK’s seat of power.
A small group of diplomats broke off during a public tour just before Christmas and entered a restricted area of the House of Lords before being discovered by security.
Officials are alarmed, with speakers from both houses prompted to remind parliamentarians of the security arrangements regarding high-ranking Russians.
“With a number of new members joining the house recently, I would like to take this opportunity to remind colleagues of the ongoing arrangements which have been in place since the Russian invasion of Ukraine”, the speakers wrote, according to The Guardian.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Lords Speaker Lord McFall of Alcluith added: “As the formally accredited representative of the Russian government, the Russian ambassador should not be welcomed onto the parliamentary estate until further notice.
“This applies to all other Russian diplomats and officials at the Russian embassy accredited to the UK.”
Despite the concern caused by the breach, a parliamentary source told the Guardian that the diplomats likely snuck into the private area of Parliament to brag to the Kremlin.
“We suspect they were just wanting to crow to the Kremlin that they had infiltrated the British parliament.
“It’s not ideal, but they were caught before any damage was done,” the source said.
A parliamentary spokesperson said: “The safety and security of all those who work and visit in parliament is our top priority. However, we cannot comment on our security measures.”