Westminster is embroiled in another spending controversy as plans emerge for a massive security fence in the River Thames, just months after a £10 million security door for the House of Lords failed to function properly.
Multi-Million Pound Security Proposals
Parliamentary clerks are currently drafting proposals for a giant security barrier that would involve driving vast pillars into the river bed outside the Palace of Westminster. The structure would protrude above the waterline and extend approximately 50 yards from the bank, effectively closing most of the first arch of Westminster Bridge to river traffic.
The projected cost has raised eyebrows throughout Westminster, with sources indicating a staggering £90 million price tag. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has expressed serious concerns about both the scale of the project and its enormous cost.
Speaker Demands Cheaper Alternative
Sir Lindsay, aware that initial estimates often balloon beyond original projections - as demonstrated by the security door that was supposed to cost £6 million but ultimately required £10 million - is pushing for a more cost-effective solution.
The Speaker favours implementing round-the-clock patrols by police boats as a more practical and affordable alternative to the massive construction project. His stance reflects growing concern about parliamentary spending following recent expensive security failures.
Diplomatic Memories and Political Shifts
In other parliamentary news, diplomat Tim Barrow shared an amusing anecdote during his maiden speech in the Lords last week. He recalled being pulled from a Moscow embassy party on Christmas Day 1991 to watch Mikhail Gorbachev's resignation speech, only to later discover he'd left his turkey in the oven.
Meanwhile, Reform UK's political fortunes show mixed results. Since their local elections triumph last May, the party has gained 54 additional seats in by-elections. However, Nigel Farage has also lost 36 councillors, with 18 resigning, 11 expelled, six suspended, and one defecting back to Ukip.
In lighter political moments, former Labour MP Jonathan Ashworth and ex-chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng debated the appropriateness of swearing on television. Kwarteng confessed to swearing on University Challenge about 30 years ago, blaming quizmaster Jeremy Paxman for provoking his outburst.
The BBC faced minor embarrassment when Radio 4's Today programme presenter Amol Rajan incorrectly announced the date as November 17th before correcting himself several minutes later to confirm it was actually November 8th.
Finally, impressionist Jan Ravens noted the challenge of mimicking Labour politicians, describing their voices as "adenoidal" and similar to "a nursery school where there's always a cold going round."
