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People always seem surprised to hear Parliament really is close to falling down. Rain used to pour in through the windows in the Telegraph’s lobby office because they don’t close.
The basement floods on a regular basis (it’s also where all the wiring runs). There aren’t enough fire doors so firemen have to patrol the whole building turning off computers at night to reduce the risks.
A number of colleagues have got stuck in lifts, which despite the best efforts of staff regularly break down. The loos block on a daily basis and the water pressure often drops meaning they can’t be used for hours at a time.
There are real fears about asbestos, hidden electrical faults, fire safety and access. I could go on. I love Parliament, it’s an amazing place to work, but it really is falling apart. And now the actual chamber can’t sit because of a leak.
You can read more about the programme to try and fix the issues here. I think I’m right in saying (@ayestotheright) that MPs still need to approve the budget?: restorationandrenewal.parliament.uk
(And please stop tweeting me to say we should tear it down, it’s a beautiful building which despite everything above should be loved and restored, not destroyed)
I forgot the mice! Oh the mice. A poor government staffer literally jumped out of their chair this week when a mouse ran over their foot in the middle of a briefing. It is such a normal occurrence that nobody else in the room moved.
