An inquiry has been initiated following the discovery of a hidden mobile phone in the Parliament with intentions to play inappropriate sounds during Prime Minister’s Questions. The phone was strategically placed near the front bench to trigger disruptive noises during a session involving Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch on Wednesday, as reported by The Times.
The device, set to emit explicit audio, was fortunately detected during a routine security check before the debate commenced. This incident is being treated as a serious breach of parliamentary security protocols, although there is no clear footage available of the phone being planted.
A source informed The Times that while the incident appears to be a prank, it could have had more severe consequences, and the origins of the phone remain unknown. Public access to the chamber in the Palace of Westminster, which includes the UK Parliament, is allowed for tourists most mornings, with a record 560,317 visitors welcomed last year.
This occurrence bears resemblance to a similar incident in 2023 when a pornographic audio disrupted a live broadcast of Match of the Day. A mobile phone, planted by a YouTube prankster, was discovered, and Gary Lineker, the presenter, acknowledged the incident, stating that the phone was cleverly hidden behind the set.
Notably, this event follows a significant breach of parliamentary security four years ago when semi-naked climate change activists interrupted a Brexit debate by sticking their hands to the public gallery glass for nearly 20 minutes.
The UK Parliament spokesperson emphasized the commitment to safety and security within the public building, highlighting stringent security measures in place to screen visitors and their belongings, as evidenced by the prompt removal of the mobile phone from the Commons Chamber on September 3.