The House of Lords in London is facing criticism over its new entrance door, which, despite a £9.6 million security upgrade completed in 2023, has proven to be dysfunctional. Originally estimated to cost approximately £6.1 million, the project overshot its budget significantly, leaving peers in uproar during discussions about the project. The door requires a security officer to be manned at all times to function properly, raising concerns over the financial and practical implications of this oversight.
The improvements to the door were part of a series of security recommendations following the 2017 Westminster terror attack, which revealed vulnerabilities within Britain’s political core. Former Conservative minister Lord Robathan expressed his outrage, calling the expenditures on the door a “scandalous waste of public money.” The costly requirement for constant security staffing has been estimated at around £2,500 per week, further inflating the operational costs associated with what many see as a poorly executed project.
During these discussions, Lord Hayward pointed out that the staffing costs add a strain on Parliament’s resources, calling for accountability regarding the more than £10 million spent for a non-functional door. In defense, senior deputy speaker Lord Gardiner of Kimble clarified that no new staff had been hired specifically for the door, promising that the financial responsibility for these errors would fall on the contractors involved, not the House itself.
Lord McFall of Alfuith, the Lord Speaker, has called for an investigation into the project’s financial discrepancies, seeking clarity on how costs escalated from the original estimate and what unforeseen expenditures arose. He emphasized the need to identify any lapses that led to such a costly failure in ensuring the safety of the institution.
A spokesperson for the House of Lords insisted that the project entailed much more than merely installing a door; it included the integration of advanced security capabilities along with significant heritage considerations. The spokesperson pointed to several factors that contributed to the budget overruns, including attempts to minimize disruption during construction, unexpected technical issues linked to historic site discoveries, and rescheduling complications due to unplanned ceremonial events.
The challenges surrounding the door project have become a focal point of dissatisfaction among peers, emphasizing a broader concern regarding financial management and operational efficiency within governmental projects. As discussions continue, the goal remains to ensure that significant public funds are used effectively and responsibly, particularly in the context of enhancing national security without incurring unnecessary costs. The situation underscores the need for transparency and accountability in public spending, particularly in light of the serious implications for national safety.
