'Abuse Of Power': Mourners Anger grows at MPs skipping queue to see Queen's coffin

‘Abuse Of Power’: Mourners Anger grows at MPs skipping queue to see Queen’s coffin

Last updated: 2022/09/17 at 10:38 PM

By Wenslauce Chengo - Senior Producer Published September 17, 2022

2 Min Read

There is growing anger about people skipping ‘The Queue’ to see the Queen lying in state.

The wait to see the late monarch’s coffin stood at more than 24 hours at 8am this morning, but VIPs including MPs and peers are allowed to skip past.

- Advertisement · Scroll to continue -

While members of the public face a day’s wait standing in line – with some not even able to join – MPs can jump past them and bring up to four guests along with them, a House of Commons spokesperson confirmed.

- Advertisement · Scroll to continue -

Meanwhile, people with accessibility needs are not able to join the miles-long queue until midday, and can only bring one carer, the Government said this morning.

- Advertisement · Scroll to continue -

General entry to the queue for Westminster Hall could again be paused if capacity is reached in Southwark Park among people eager to catch a glimpse of the Queen’s coffin.

The unequal treatment has led to accusations from the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union that they are being treated as ‘second class citizens’.

- Advertisement · Scroll to continue -

Its general secretary Mark Serwotka said: ‘It’s symbolic that hard-working security guards, cleaners and catering staff in Parliament are treated as second class citizens.

Jacob Rees Mogg and family pay respects to the queen — Jacob Rees Mogg paid his respects

15/09/2022 - WESTMINISTER HALL - Queen lying-in-state - Huge queues are forming along the banks of the River Thames, as people wait to pay their respects to the Queen. Her lying-in-state will continue 24 hours a day until 06:30 BST on Monday 19 September - the day of the funeral. Here's what you need to know before joining the queue. The UK government has published a live queue tracker for people to follow on YouTube. According to the tracker,the queue is currently about 4.2 miles long. The nearest landmark to the back of the queue is Bermondsey Beach. One man, towards the front of the queue near Westminster Hall, told the media on Thursday morning he had been queuing for eight hours. People queuing are being warned they will need to stand for many hours with little opportunity to sit down, as the queue is constantly moving. The maximum length of the queue is 10 miles - with 6.9 miles from Westminster to Southwark, and a three-mile zigzag queue in Southwark Park. PICTURE: UNPIXS 15/09/2022 — Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner joined mourners in Westminster Hall (Picture: BBC/UNPIXS)

Theresa May queues to see Queen and curtsies at her coffin — Theresa May was among the MPs who filed past the coffin (Picture: Sky News)

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Lafargue Raphael/ABACA/Shutterstock (13396019f) A woman wears a survival blanket as she queue at night to pay respects to the Queen, as the coffin of Britain Queen Elizabeth lies in state inside Westminster Hall at the Palace of Westminster, in London, Britain, September 16, 2022. People queue at night to pay respects to the Queen - London, Britain - 16 Sep 2022 — Ordinary people in the queue faced cold conditions overnight (Picture: Shutterstock)

‘As we usher in a new era, it’s time for them to be treated as equals and at least given a pay rise to help them through the cost-of-living crisis and beyond.’