Blair hit by projectile in Commons
House of Commons business was suspended this afternoon after a projectile struck Tony Blair during Prime Minister’s Question Time.
An condom full of flour thrown from the visitors’ gallery hit the Prime Minister on the back releasing a cloud of purple powder.
A detailed examination of the substance established that it was not harmful, Speaker Michael Martin told the House as MPs resumed for the afternoon’s business.
The incident took place after two protesters, signed into the gallery by Baroness Golding, accessed an area unprotected by the recently installed security screen.
Mr Martin told the House that peers’ ability to admit guests to the chamber would be suspended with immediate effect and he demanded that a full explanation is submitted to him before the end of day. In a later statment Baroness Golding said she was ‘deeply distressed’ by the incident and would cooperate fully with the investigation.
Tory MP Michael Portillo, who was in the chamber at the time, told the Politics Show that the object was “mauve or purple in colour”.
The powder spread on impact and a number of primarily Labour MPs were seen brushing purple powder off their suits shortly after the incident.
Fathers4Justice, which campaigns for the rights of fathers in child custody proceedings, claimed responsibility for the act.
The incident comes only a few weeks after MPs voted to install a permanent transparent screen separating the House from the public gallery after fears were raised that terrorists might be able to release chemical or biological agents into the House of Commons.
A temporary screen is currently in place at the cost of £600,000 whilst work commences on installing a permanent transparent screen at the cost of around £1.3mn. Reports indicate that the projectile was thrown from a different area of the Commons.
Fathers4Justice has developed a reputation for political stunts. One of its members recently chained himself to London Bridge for six days and was cleared of causing a public nuisance yesterday.
Police have arrested two men in connection with the incident.
