Parliament’s security spending has soared by nearly £10million a year since the Westminster terror attack, it can be revealed today.
The dramatic escalation of protection for MPs and peers following the deadly attack has been underlined in figures uncovered by MailOnline – suggesting the measures now cost some £45million annually.
The overhaul came amid fears about gaping loopholes, including weaknesses at the main Carriage Gates entrance, no armed officers on site on Sundays, and poor CCTV coverage.
There are also mounting concerns about the security of MPs as they arrive at Westminster, after Tory former minister Anna Soubry was confronted by an angry mob who branded her a Nazi and slag.
Khalid Masood stabbed PC Keith Palmer to death in March 2017 as he forced his way through the gates at Parliament.
He was shot dead – but had already killed four others using a car on Westminster Bridge. Two separate reviews recommended sweeping changes to the defences on and around the estate.
A UK Parliament spokesman said Parliament takes security extremely seriously. For obvious reasons we cannot discuss our security arrangements.
In April 2017 three weeks after PC Palmer’s death new larger and taller black iron security gates covered in wire mesh were installed.
They are now permanently closed unless a car requires access, but this was not the case when PC Palmer was murdered. Armed officers are also permanently on duty by the entrance.