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Security fears as Harman puts map of Parliament on the web
Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent22.10.09
HARRIET HARMAN was today accused of giving an "open invitation" to terrorists to attack Parliament by publishing a detailed plan of its layout on the internet.
The Commons leader was criticised by MPs from all parties for publishing the map of the Palace of Westminster on the Cabinet Office website. It showed MPs' offices and other rooms and detailed the complex labyrinth of corridors which run through the buildings.
Liberal Democrat Paul Burstow, who sits on Parliament's security committee, told the Standard: "There has to be some concern that providing a very detailed plan of the Palace of Westminster is really an open invitation to both terrorist attacks and also to anyone else who wants to try to get in. It does not seem to make a great deal of sense to me."
Within hours of the Standard alerting the authorities, access to the map on the Cabinet Office webpage was being denied.
Labour MP Keith Vaz, chairman of the Commons home affairs committee, said: "I'm astonished that so much detail has been provided on the internet.
"This is providing a guide book for those who want to target members for whatever reason."
A Cabinet Office spokesman said: "Details of floor plans were published inadvertently. They were intended for internal parliamentary use only.
"Once this was noticed, the maps were removed from the public site."
Reader views (10)
What a muppet.
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London
She's only done this because she knows she won't be working there much longer.
Why is it that so-called educated people are such immature, vindictive twits?
- Mark J, cambs uk
Is there a day when this stupid woman does not do or say something to harm her wretched party ?
- Michael, London, UK
This woman is a dangerous nutcase and should be subject to a control order.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
This is a public building. I can go in there and walk around anyway. Why would knowing the layout make much of a difference?
- Chris, London
Why am I not surprised? Glad she's nu labour. It'll be an absolute joy to the spin doctors explaning this, as they surely will.
- Stephen C, London
Did it show a "smoking allowed" sign for the commons bar.
- P Staker, London
Quite frankly, who would miss it if it were to be blown up?
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Remind me, how much are we paying this woman (salary + expenses)?
Would you want the intellect this woman has shown (Leader of the House of Commons, Lord Privy Seal and Minister for Women and Equality) to be the decisive factor behind pushing the nuclear red button?
If the Prime Mentalist resigned / died tomorrow, it could be that this numpty replaced him.
"Sleep well, and don't have nightmares".
- Bugs Man, Wolverhampton
MP's must have something to hide if they need to redact this information from the electorate.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR
