Posted on 09/17/2004 12:00:11 PM PDT by Stoat
A SUN reporter could have BLOWN UP the House of Commons yesterday - less than 24 hours after the invasion by hunt protesters.
Our man posed as a Commons waiter to smuggle in a fake bomb.
At risk ... John Prescott would have been easy prey
He exposed shambolic security to get the job with bogus references.
And just hours before Wednesday's Commons drama he even served Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.
These are his words:
I STOOD within 2ft of John Prescott at the House of Commons and could have blown him up on the spot.
Having landed a job as a waiter using fake references, I had unfettered access to the Deputy PM as I served him drinks on Parliament's river terrace.
He had no idea I was an impostor.
And nor did ANY of the VIPs I met at close quarters over 11 days - including Northern Ireland First Minister David Trimble and Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon.
And yesterday, just a day after hunt supporters stormed the Commons Chamber as a protest, I smuggled a fake bomb into Parliament.
Had I been a terrorist, I could have left the "device" in a toilet or in the restaurant where I worked.
It could easily have blown up the Chamber just 20 yards away - killing hundreds of MPs.
Alternatively, I could have strapped the "explosive" to my waist and triggered it beside Mr Prescott.
My spell as a Commons waiter confirmed how utterly farcical security there has become.
Hain thanks The Sun
Hain ... 'Sun has done us a favour'
By STEVE KENNEDY
COMMONS leader Peter Hain said last night The Sun had done MPs a favour by exposing lax security in Parliament.
Mr Hain said: "This confirms all my worst fears and why I have so determinedly pushed for much tighter security and modern professional procedures in the House.
"Frankly, The Sun has done the House a favour by exposing the amateurish and old-fashioned culture which is a threat to the very cockpit of our democracy.
"It's not just ministers at risk, but 14,000 people who work at the Palace of Westminster in the modern age of suicide bombers.
"I have immediately asked the security services to close the loophole The Sun has discovered."
Earlier, Mr Hain said MPs are endangering lives by treating Parliament as a 19th century "gentlemen's club".
He warned the "antiquated fiefdoms" and cosy world of privileges will be swept away by the age of terrorism.
Shadow Leader of the House Oliver Heald said of our exposé: "This is a scandal. We need to ensure proper security checks are carried out. We are grateful to The Sun."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1218287/posts
And also look at the original URL for this Sun story for video report links.
--erik
I believe that it was the same newspaper, but I'm not sure if it was the same guy.
If so, this would be a MUCH worse scandal than it already is !
I'm suspecting that if it was indeed the same reporter, the Sun would be trumpeting that aspect of the story as well.
That is the same guy.
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