Trains, hospitals and schools – there are few aspects of British life left untouched by the winter of discontent. And now Steerpike hears rumblings of industrial discontent at the heart of British democracy itself: in the Houses of Parliament itself. Long-suffering staffers have had to endure months of vermin-infested kitchens, crumbling masonry and asbestos aplenty. Now power cuts over the past two days in the One Parliament Street building have pushed some of those working on the parliamentary estate to the brink.

The GMB branch for Members’ staff is now gathering signatures for a letter to the Serjeant at Arms, outlining their urgent concerns. ‘One Parliament Street’, they write ‘is becoming increasingly unfit for purpose and it is only a matter of time before an occupant is seriously injured or becomes unwell as a direct result of its defects.’ They lambast the ‘near-farcical situation’ whereby ‘MPs and their staff are being suddenly plunged into darkness and the freezing cold for several hours.’ This prevents them from working and forces them to seek shelter in other offices ‘just to keep warm whilst the electricity is restored. This should simply not be happening in a modern workplace.’

A lack of heaters, fire alarm malfunctions, leaks, broken lifts, security issues and ‘dangerous’ power sockets are also cited as issues. They conclude that:

the present situation in this corner of the parliamentary estate is simply not acceptable, sustainable or safe and it is beginning to seriously impact the physical and mental health of staff. A serious incident could take place any day now. At the moment, the quick fixes feel like sticking plasters and they are patently not preventing the problems from reoccurring.

One shivering staffer told Mr S that some employees are being effectively forced to work in their scarf and gloves:

Over the past 24 hours there have been four power cuts, each lasting several hours. No access to emails. No access to lighting. No access to heating. Unable to do our jobs. Add to that the invasion of mice, rats and flooding – the mother of all parliaments is on the brink. It’s a disgrace this has been allowed to happen.’

Who’d want to live like Commons people eh?

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