MPs’ staff have been drunkenly sleeping in the office after missing their trains home after nights out.

Sir Charles Walker, the Conservative MP who chairs Parliament’s administration committee, said Commons security staff had recently received several reports of researchers returning to the office to sleep off a night in the pub.

He wrote to all MPs on Wednesday night to warn that the trend was a fire and security risk, and to ask them “to be vigilant in ensuring that passholders, be they our staff or anyone else, conduct themselves to the highest standard at all times”.

He said: “During a recent meeting with Alison Giles, director of security for Parliament, I learned that passholders are returning to the premises, having missed the last train home after a night out, to sleep in their office,” he said.

He also directed MPs to addiction support services for members of staff with drinking problems.

Although it is understood that no action will be taken against those who have been caught sleeping in their offices so far, MPs on the committee are planning to remove security passes from anyone found to have broken the rules in future.

Remove security passes

“Any responsible organisation would be extremely concerned if it had its staff re-entering the premises in an inebriated state and using their offices as a dormitory for the night,” Sir Charles told The Telegraph on Thursday night.

“Although isolated, this is absolutely unacceptable behaviour and the administration committee will be looking at a range of sanctions to levy on anyone found to have done this in the future.

“This will include removing passes either for a period of time or permanently.”

Meanwhile the Metropolitan Police are considering action against Downing Street and Cabinet Office staff for a slew of alleged lockdown-breaking parties in government buildings during the pandemic.

The Telegraph understands that officials are now designing new guidelines on civil servants drinking at work, and staff could be banned from consuming alcohol in the office unless for a specific work-related function.

After closing during the pandemic, Parliament’s taxpayer-subsidised bars have reopened to MPs and their staff.