London: British police refused access to an India-style rickshaw in which House of Commons Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans was travelling to reach his house in the Commons estate.
He reportedly urged the police to waive strict security rules and allow the rickshaw driver to take him into Parliament after a night out, The Sun reported today.
Evans, a Conservative MP from Ribble Valley, wanted to be dropped off at his luxurious grace-and-favour lodgings deep within the Commons estate so he could get the driver's 5 pounds fare, but the police refused to allow access.
As one of three deputy speakers, Evans is responsible for ensuring order in the chamber.
A spokesman for the MP - who had spent the evening in London's West End - confirmed: "He did get a rickshaw back to the Commons. He needed the fare because he didn't have any cash on him."
A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: "A vehicle was refused entry as it was not an authorised vehicle."
Cycle-rickshaws are used for short distance travel on Oxford Street and other places in London and elsewhere in the UK. They are often criticised for holding up traffic.
PTI
First Published: Friday, August 05, 2011, 12:44