Parliament’s most famous bar, Strangers, is to re-open after being closed last month following a drink-spiking allegation.

The bar, used by MPs and their guests, peers, parliamentary staff and political journalists, was closed on Monday 20 January.

Sky News understands it is now likely to re-open after Parliament’s half-term recess, on Monday 24 February, meaning it will have been shut for five weeks.

The decision to re-open was taken at a secret meeting of the House of Commons Commission, chaired by Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

“The commission will be providing an update shortly,” a source told Sky News. That update could come as early as later this week.

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The bar was closed after a parliamentary researcher complained her drink had been spiked. The woman told bar staff and security personnel the drink had been tampered with.

The alleged incident, said to have taken place at about 6.30pm on Tuesday 7 January, in the first week after Parliament returned from recess, prompted a police inquiry.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed an investigation had been launched and the victim was being supported. No arrests have been made, however.

The decision to close the bar was taken by Sir Lindsay, in consultation with the clerk of the House, Tom Goldsmith, and the director of parliamentary security, Alison Giles.

Announcing the closure on Friday 17 January , a House of Commons spokesperson said: “Strangers’ Bar will close from Monday 20 January while security and safety arrangements are reviewed.

“The safety of everyone on the estate remains a key priority of both Houses.”

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It has been reported that one result of the review will be CCTV cameras being installed in the bar. Another possible outcome is changes to who is eligible to use the bar.

The House of Commons Commission is Parliament’s most senior rule-making committee. It is made up of seven MPs, including the Speaker, and four lay members.

The other MPs are Commons Leader Lucy Powell, the Tories’ shadow leader Jesse Norman, Labour MPs Rachel Blake and Nick Smith, former Tory cabinet minister Steve Barclay and Lib Dem MP Maria Goldman.

Neighbours have been left in “shock” and fear after the sudden deaths of a popular British couple in rural France.

Dawn and Andrew Searle, who have not yet been officially named by French authorities, moved to the hamlet of Les Pesquies, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, in southern France, around a decade ago.

The couple, who are in their 60s, are believed to have been found dead by a German friend who lives nearby, after Mr Searle did not turn up for one of their regular walks.

Ms Searle’s son, the country musician and former Hollyoaks star Callum Kerr, said in a statement posted online that he and his sister, Amanda Kerr, and Mr Searle’s two children, Tom and Ella Searle, were grieving.

Investigators are reportedly looking at whether the British couple were killed during a burglary, but all lines of enquiry, including murder-suicide or potential links to Mr Searle’s previous work as an organised crime financial investigator in the UK – are open.

A neighbour who knew them very well told Sky News they were “very happy people, joyful, very nice and would talk to people even if they didn’t know them. They always had a smile on their face.”

Ms Searle’s body was reportedly found outside their home, naked, with jewellery found scattered nearby, while Mr Searle’s body was discovered inside the house and had been gagged, according to local media.

There was little sign of their deaths at their home in the idyllic village on Monday, apart from the yellow and red Gendarmerie tape still on the white gate.

Locals described them as “good neighbours” who would often be seen walking their two dogs.

“Each year in September they would do this big dinner with all the village and invite everyone. They were very nice people,” said a woman who lived nearby.

“It’s very sad, it’s tragic. It’s a very low-key village, everybody gets along with each other and everybody’s in shock right now, they’re surprised.

“It’s scary too. The newspapers are saying possibly it’s because of what he used to do as a job. Here locally, nobody would hold grudges.”

A LinkedIn profile in his name says he retired in 2015 after working for Barclays and Standard Life, and was “enjoying life in rural France”.

His page talks about having “over 20 years experience specialising in Financial Crime Prevention (AML, Fraud and Anti-Bribery) with a high profile in the industry and an extensive network of contacts”.

Another woman said she was about to buy a house in the hamlet but is now having second thoughts, adding: “I don’t feel safe here anymore”.

A postman said there was a big UK expat community in the area, with around 20 British people on his round.

The Searles have lived in the village permanently for 10 years and are said to be very integrated with the community.

“They would enjoy life, they would travel and sometimes go home as well,” a neighbour said.

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The mayor of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Jean-Sebastien Orcibal, who also lives in Les Pesquies, previously told broadcaster France 3 the deaths were “something criminal, a homicide very clearly”.

However, the public prosecutor Nicolas Rigot-Muller said that while both “died violent deaths… all hypotheses remain open” while investigations continue.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British couple who died in France and are liaising with the local authorities.”

A teenage soldier who was found dead at a military camp felt “trapped” by the “possessive and psychotic” behaviour of her army line manager, an inquest has heard.

Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck was found dead at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire on 15 December 2021.

A military inquiry report published in October 2023 described “an intense period of unwelcome behaviour” and said it was “almost certain this was a causal factor” in the 19-year-old’s death.

An inquest into her death heard Gunner Beck received thousands of messages from Bombardier Ryan Mason in a single month and his behaviour was “freaking her out”.

Her mother, Leighann McCready, described how her daughter “did not feel safe” as the situation involving Mr Mason intensified.

The Salisbury hearing was shown a series of WhatsApp messages between Gunner Beck and Mr Mason between October 2021 and December 2021.

In one message to Gunner Beck, on 21 October, Mr Mason wrote: “Love you Jayse. As a friend.”

On 11 November, he wrote: “You’re amazing Jayse, I appreciate you so much, I love everything about you, even your flaws.”

On 25 November, Gunner Beck wrote to Mr Mason, telling him the situation was “becoming a bit too much” and “weighing me down”.

She added: “Totally honest here, I just don’t want to hear how you feel about me.”

Ms McCready said her daughter had received 3,600 messages from Mr Mason in the month of November – and Gunner Beck had expressed fears he was watching her.

She added her daughter had phoned her on 7 December when she was staying in a hotel in Newbury for work.

Gunner Beck was “upset and crying” and was “afraid something would happen,” Ms McCready said.

“Ryan was freaking her out,” she added.

‘It’s not normal behaviour’

The inquest was shown a draft text message that Gunner Beck had planned to send Mr Mason.

It said: “I honestly feel trapped in this whole situation, I have tried to act as normal as possible because we are working together but nothing normal about this situation.

“It’s possessive and psychotic, you have to understand it’s not normal behaviour.

“I am struggling to deal with all of this, it’s taking a huge toll on my own mental health for many personal reasons. I need time out.”

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The inquest was also told that Gunner Beck had complained of being assaulted by a sergeant who put his hand “between her legs” while on a team-building stay at Thorney Island, near Emsworth, Hampshire, in July 2021.

The hearing continues.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.