Lib Dem ‘Brexit sleepover’ blocked by Parliament on health and safety grounds

A Brexit “sleepover” planned by the Liberal Democrats for peers voting late has been blocked by Parliament on health and safety grounds. 

The party had ordered 90 camp beds for their Lords with votes on Brexit Bill changes due to go on throughout the night this month. 

The news made headlines with battles over the legislation to give the Prime Minister the right to start Brexit talks coming to a head. 

However parliamentary officials have vetoed the plan because it breaks strict fire regulations in the Palace of Westminster. 

Politicians are not allowed to sleep in their offices because it would be impossible to know how many people were in the building in case of an evacuation.  

A Lords spokesman said: “Due to fire and safety requirements Members are not permitted to sleep overnight in their offices.”

Sources also disputed Lib Dem suggestions that boxes of pizza would be ordered into Parliament to fuel debate throughout the night. 

A Lords insider said all deliveries would need to go “via an off-site consolidation centre which is in Essex”, meaning takeaways may turn up “a little cold”. 

A Lib Dem spokesman last night hit back by saying the camp beds would be installed in the party’s headquarters around the corner from Parliament instead. 

“Our plan for Brexit Bill changes won’t be stopped by a couple of health and safety busybodies," the spokesman said. 

"Peers can come to our headquarters just around parliament for a rest instead."