Spirited scenes were seen spinning around Portcullis House yesterday, as MPs took part in a Royal British Legion charity “Poppy Ride” ahead of Armistice Day. MPs put their fitness to the test, seeing how far they could cycle in 5 minutes. Ben Spencer came first in the challenge, having also won last year, and Alex Chalk came an impressive third, cycling 3.57 kilometres. Thangham Debbonaire, Anneliese Dodds and Mark Francois trailed close behind. Not just pedalling politics…

More low energy from Wendy Morton, Simon Fell, Bernard Jenkins and Dawn Butler, who couldn’t brake past the 3 kilometre mark, while Speaker Lindsay Hoyle only managed 2.41km. Well done to those who took part…

The parliamentary authorities are finally cracking down on leaks. After the roof in Portcullis House caved in yesterday, dumping gallons of rainwater on unsuspecting bag-carriers, builders have now erected emergency scaffolding to prevent a catastrophe. This building cost the taxpayer £235 million. Another public sector building project…

When it rains it pours for the Restoration and Renewal Programme, as the roof in the modern Portcullis House Atrium has just cracked, pouring water on Parliamentary punters. Guido is just grateful to Natasha Porter for sharing a photo from the Parliamentary Estate. He knows all too well how much the authorities dislike leaks…

UPDATE: The area has been cordoned off:

This is one of the ‘modern’ areas of Parliament…

Just when Julian Knight looked to be in the clear from his police investigation, as sure as Knight follows day, fresh sexual misconduct allegations have emerged. Last night, the BBC reported that at least four women have made complaints to parliamentary authorities – since the Metropolitan Police dropped their probe. The allegations are related to “inappropriate comments and behaviour”. On top of the five complaints lodged to the police, there are now nine separate allegations. Knight denies any wrongdoing.

To add insult to injury, Guido hears Knight has a new office mate. A parliamentary co-conspirator writes in to say that he is now sharing a PCH office with disgraced independent David Warburton, after his former neighbours (MP included) requested a move. Birds of a feather flock together…

UPDATE: A co-conspirator clarifies that Julian wasn’t moved offices – his neighbour was, following a complaint. After a disagreement, one of Julian’s staffers told his roommate to “F*** Off”…

MPs and their staff returning to SW1 will immediately notice a big difference to their communal meeting and dining foyer in Portcullis House. A huge scaffolding construction has enveloped almost the entirety of the inner building, removing access to tables and chairs. On the inside? We don’t yet know thanks to the thick black curtains shielding everything from view.

A source tells Guido the work is to replace the old and defunct area previously occupied by fig trees, which while providing some nice greenery, had a desire to topple over – something the House authorities spent over £500,000 trying to prevent over 12 years. The trees got the axe last year. It will now apparently become a platformed events space, an initiative of the Speaker’s doing. FoI requests at the ready…

UPDATE: A House of Commons spokesperson said: “Following removal of the trees from the atrium earlier this year, we are using recess to test the space to see how it might be used more flexibly in future for a variety of uses, and to understand any limitations.” 

While the Western world continues backing the plight of Ukraine, Tory MP staffers have been focusing on the real problems resulting from the war: a new Portcullis House billboard display of Russian war crimes.

The 10-foot tall exhibit in the centre of the MP meeting ground “shows the systematic atrocities against civilians that are an integral part of Russia’s assault on Ukraine: rape, torture, executions, bombardments, and the destroyed lives they leave behind”. Pretty heavy, important stuff. What objections could staffers have to it?

This afternoon, a Red Wall MP’s aide wrote to the Speaker about the exhibition. The primary concern:

“Whilst of course events by Russia are abhorrent, staff and members need some spaces for lunch. Having war crimes staring at you prevents you from taking a well-needed break.

That last sentence has, surely, thus far, never been written in an email to a Commons Speaker before…

Among other concerns, the staffers claim that the size of the signs “presents huge security concerns, in effect blocking security’s view for a large part of the atrium.

Guido suggests that if someone with ill intent is standing unsupervised in the middle of PCH, House security has made quite a substantial blunder already…