The House of Lords has spent nearly £10million on a front door that does not work, it has been revealed.
Peers vented fury at the 'disaster' after forcing Leader of the House Baroness Smith of Basildon to disclose the massive costs.
Despite the huge bill, a member of staff needs to be by the entrance around the clock to press a button that opens it. There are questions about whether it will ever work properly.
The Lords authorities have refused to give figures on the spending for months, arguing that doing so could help terrorists plotting attacks.
But pressed by Tory ex-minister Lord Forsyth yesterday, Lady Smith said: 'On the door itself, there are two issues, cost and operability.
