Audio tours of Parliament have been suspended after a mobile phone allegedly programmed to play "sex noises" during Prime Minister's Questions was planted in the Commons.
The Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation after the device was found during a routine sweep of the chamber on Wednesday.
Officers suspect it was placed there “with the aim of causing disruption”.
On Friday, the Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle sent an email to Parliamentary staff announced that audio tours of the building were cancelled and there would be restricted access for guided tours going forward.
The House of Lords has taken the same decision to reduce access to the Lords Chamber “as a precautionary measure”.
“Following the incident on September 3, we are reviewing the management of public access to both chambers, along with security arrangements and we will provide a further update as soon as this work is complete," Sir Lindsay's email said.
"Ensuring parliament is open to the public we serve is always an important priority, but we must ensure we balance that objective with the requirement to keep Parliament sage and able to function without disruption.”
It was reported that the phone had been hidden near the front bench to broadcast adult content during Sir Keir Starmer’s weekly clash with Kemi Badenoch.
The Met said in a statement: “At 10.25hrs on Wednesday, September 3 a mobile phone was found during a routine search of the House of Commons chamber by Met officers.
“Enquiries have led officers to believe that the phone was purposely placed in a location with the aim of causing disruption to business in the House.
“An investigation has been launched and enquiries are ongoing. We have updated the Speaker and Clerk of the House.”
