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Russian diplomats accessed a private area of parliament in a major security breach just before Christmas that has alarmed security officials and prompted private warnings from the speakers of both houses, the Guardian understands.
The small group of diplomats joined a public tour of the Houses of Parliament and then broke off to enter a part of the House of Lords that was out of bounds, before they were found by security and thrown out.
“We suspect they were just wanting to crow to the Kremlin that they had infiltrated the British parliament. It’s not ideal but they were caught before any damage was done,” a parliamentary source said.
UK government ministers, however, were said to have been alarmed by the attempt to breach parliamentary security, which is understood to have occurred late last year.
As a result of the attempt, MPs and peers have been given a written warning not to invite Russian diplomats to parliament. It is unclear whether the group were on a guided tour sponsored by a politician, or if they requested one from the parliamentary visitors’ service.
The Russian ambassador, diplomats and officials based at the embassy in London have been banned from visiting parliament since 2022 when Moscow imposed sanctions on many MPs and peers after the invasion of Ukraine.
The Commons speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, and the Lords speaker, Lord McFall of Alcluith, on Thursday privately reminded MPs and peers that they should be cautious about Russian efforts to penetrate parliamentary security.
In separate letters, the speakers wrote: “With a number of new members joining the house recently, I would like to take this opportunity to remind colleagues of the ongoing arrangements which have been in place since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“As the formally accredited representative of the Russian government, the Russian ambassador should not be welcomed on to the parliamentary estate until further notice. This applies to all other Russian diplomats and officials at the Russian embassy accredited to the UK.”
A parliamentary spokesperson said: “The safety and security of all those who work and visit in parliament is our top priority. However, we cannot comment on our security measures.”
But the breach will once again raise questions about the security of parliament, which the Guardian understands comes under regular attempted attack by foreign powers.
Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, is one of two men due to stand trial for spying for China in breach of the Official Secrets Act this autumn. He pleaded not guilty at an earlier court hearing.
The government minister Pat McFadden, whose role includes responsibility for national security, warned in November that Russia was ready to carry out cyber-attacks on the UK and other allies in an attempt to weaken support for Ukraine.
The speakers’ joint warning came as Keir Starmer made his first visit to Kyiv as prime minister, saying the UK would support Ukraine “beyond this terrible war” and into a future where it is “free and thriving again”.
He added that “right now Putin shows no signs of wanting to stop” his “unrelenting aggression”. The point was dramatically underscored by a Russian drone flying over Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office in Kyiv while the two leaders were in the middle of talks. Loud booms were heard as Ukrainian air defences tried to shoot it down.
The Russian embassy has been approached for comment.
