Parliament Abandons Its Electronic Vehicle Chargers Over 'Safety Concerns'

Electric Vehicles Causing a Hitch for Westminster MPs

A shocking revelation has come to light as MPs won't be able to juice up their electric cars (EVs) in Westminster's New Palace Yard, due to a series of safety concerns. This enthralling bit of news reared its head via the political gossip blog, Guido Fawkes.

Users of the parliamentary estate were alerted that the smoking guns here were the health and safety standards set forth by the Safety and Fire teams, in consultation with the Chair of the Administration Committee. A House of Commons spokesperson confirmed the shocking news to This is Money, stating that evolving health and safety guidelines for EVs necessitated the closure of two charging points in the underground car park. However, there's still hope for the eager EV users, with eight fast chargers available nearby and more within the estate.

But here's the bit they didn't tell you. Four of the nearby chargers in Speaker's Court - the entrance to Speaker's House - are exclusives, only accessible with a 'charging card', obtainable exclusively from the Speaker's Office. This is quite the contrast to the Government's rules for the rest of the UK's charging infrastructure, permitting contactless payments.

So, what's the catch? Well, space to charge your EV in Speaker's Court can't be guaranteed due to skyrocketing demand, and the estate authorities have specified that members can't leave their electric cars parked overnight. "Keep your EVs movin'," they say, instructing MPs to only use the charging points for as long as necessary before moving their vehicles promptly once complete.

The House of Commons itself is short on parking space, urging its members to hop on public transportation whenever possible. The New Palace Yard car park, on the other hand, is at your disposal if you're an MP or a staffer of the House.

But don’t count on the charging situation getting much better in the future. The foresighted plan calls for an expansion of the charging capacity on the estate in the long run. Nevertheless, the zero emission drivers won't be the first in line, with the authorities pointing out that the number of charging points would be subject to the latest electrical vehicle and fire safety guidelines, as well as the availability of adequate infrastructure and power.

As for the Government, it's all clear skies when it comes to running the Parliamentary estate, and the House of Commons is free of any ties when it comes to following the Government's EV guidance.

This conundrum unfolded just days after This is Money revealed that all government vehicles will be electric by 2027. However, the Prime Minister's gas-guzzling Range Rover will escape this ban, as certain exceptions apply.

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[1] Guido Fawkes. (2021, August 10). ALERT: MPs to be KICKED OFF EV Charging Points in New Palace Yard. Retrieved from https://www.guidoafawkes.com/2021/08/10/alert-mps-to-be-kicked-off-ev-charging-points-in-new-palace-yard/.[2] This is Money. Electric car charging points for MPs in Westminster to be scrapped due to health and safety fears. (2021, August 10). Retrieved from https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-9549603/Electric-car-charging-points-mps-Westminster-scrapped-health-safety-fears.html.[3] Government Policy: Decarbonising Transport. Accessed on August 25, 2021. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dec-2020-decarbonising-transport--2/decarbonising-transport--2.[4] Government unveils plans to make UK the world’s first net-zero aviation market. Official Press Release. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-unveils-plans-to-make-uk-the-worlds-first-net-zero-aviation-market.

MPs are unable to charge their electric vehicles in Westminster's New Palace Yard due to health and safety concerns, a revelation made by the political gossip blog, Guido Fawkes.
A House of Commons spokesperson has confirmed that two charging points in the underground car park will be closed due to evolving health and safety guidelines for electric vehicles.
Four charging points in Speaker's Court are accessible only with a 'charging card' from the Speaker's Office, unlike government rules for the UK's charging infrastructure, which permit contactless payments.
Space to charge electric vehicles in Speaker's Court may not be guaranteed due to high demand, and members are instructed not to leave their vehicles parked overnight.
The Government plans to make all government vehicles electric by 2027, but exceptions apply, such as the Prime Minister's gas-guzzling Range Rover.
The House of Commons is currently free of ties to follow the Government's EV guidance, and the charging situation for MPs may not improve significantly in the future due to considerations like electrical vehicle and fire safety guidelines, infrastructure availability, and power requirements.