Monday’s house session was delayed as police entered the chamber with water-absorbing blankets, a protective cover was draped over the center table and several buckets were placed around the green benches to catch falling water. A message on the Parliament’s monitors read: “Today’s meeting is delayed due to a water leak in the chamber. A revised meeting time will be announced.” Commons vice-chairman Nigel Evans said: “Someone has just told me this is a leak where we don’t need an investigation.” Shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Ashworth tweeted: “Supposed to be DWP [Department for Work and Pensions] questions now, but a leak in the roof of the Commons appears to have led to a downpour over the government’s Treasury bench.’ Subscribe to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7am. BST Labour’s Emma Hardy, who briefly entered the chamber before being turned away, said the leak could be seen “right in front of the dispatch box”. The MP for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle said: “I just went past and there are loads of people working, about six or seven. Lots of blankets on the floor and a machine, not sure what it does. The leak]is right in front of the shipping box, but the roof looks fine.” Hardy said she was told the issue would be resolved as soon as possible. On Tuesday, ministers are to consider a proposal to restore and renew the Palace of Westminster to preserve it “for future generations and ensure the safety of all those who work and visit the palace, now and in the future”. It’s not just a matter of maintenance, but also the exorbitant cost – ranging from £7bn to £13bn – and the logistics of relocating MPs and Lords to temporary accommodation during refurbishment work, which could take years. The dilapidated state of the building, however, has created universal agreement among politicians, officials and councilors that something must be done. The leak may come as little surprise to MPs who described the Palace of Westminster as “Britain’s Notre Dame”, suggesting it could suffer a similar fate to the Paris cathedral, which went up in smoke in April 2019. Nor is it the first time. Three years ago, the Commons was suspended for a day after water started pouring into the chamber from the roof, soaking a section of the gallery. A Commons spokesman said: “Due to water leaking over the House of Commons chamber, the start of work has been delayed. Maintenance staff have taken action to resolve the situation and the house is expected to sit from 3.30pm.”
