A leaking roof has forced House of Commons proceedings to end for the day after water flowed into the chamber.

Deputy Speaker Lindsay Hoyle took the action to temporarily halt MPs' proceedings after a backbench business debate on the introduction of the loan charge was interrupted by the sound of running water.

A decision was later made to end Thursday's sitting completely due to the leak.

MPs will now not return to Westminster until Monday afternoon.

Among a number of MPs to tweet about the leak, Labour's Justin Madders wrote: "In the Commons chamber and can hear rain dripping in through the roof. Parliament really is broken."


Here's the moment the House of Commons was suspended due to a leak pic.twitter.com/8Wpk1UmsuF — Greg Heffer (@GregHeffer) April 4, 2019

Tory MP Julia Lopez wrote: "In the Chamber for the loan charge debate. A very noisy torrent of water coming in from the ceiling - is this a Biblical flood coming to wash us all away?!!"

Fellow Conservative Neil O'Brien noted how it sounded "like a pipe has burst", adding: "Leak alert! A lot of water is flowing into the chamber of the Commons from above. Think it is coming in from the press gallery appropriately."

And another Tory MP, Ross Thomson, posted a photo of people inspecting the roof above the Commons press gallery, writing: "Not the first time there has been a leak in Parliament I'm sure."

The SNP's Deidre Brock claimed Brexit metaphors as a result of the leak were "three for a pound", while the Labour whips' office suggested there had been a "sewerage leak in the press gallery".

Image: The House of Commons roof began leaking. Pic: Ross Thomson MP

A spokesperson for the House of Commons said: "The leak was urgently dealt with and has now been isolated.

"The House of Commons maintenance team is currently assessing the damage.

"We would like to clarify this was not a sewage leak."

Earlier this week, a group of protesters were arrested after stripping off in the House of Commons as MPs debated Brexit.

Direct action group Extinction Rebellion said semi-naked activists had glued their hands to the public gallery to "call attention to the 'elephant in the room' - climate and ecological crisis".

MPs continued with their business in that instance.

Liberal Democrat MP Sir Ed Davey posted on Twitter: "Tied votes, naked protesters & rain stops play. What a week in Parliament - & then there's #BrexitOmniShambles."