PARLIAMENT FIRE HAZARD WARNING

Inferno risk after years of refit delays

- MIKEY SMITH

PARLIAMENT is at risk of burning down as politicians dither over restoration plans.

Firefighters rank the Palace of Westminster as "people safe" because everyone could be evacuated in a fire.

But the building itself cannot pass safety tests because of a basement that runs for its entire length, meaning a blaze could spread everywhere.

The basement is also crammed with hundreds of miles of pipes and electricity and internet cables, which staff have to squeeze past. And outside, nets have been put up to stop crumbling masonry from falling on pedestrians.