Members of Parliament are calling for a major overhaul of the Westminster gym following reports of dilapidated facilities.. the House's Administration Committee concluded that the current basement site is substandard and requires urgent investment to meet the needs of the parliamentary community.

Al Carns and the ceiling panels of the Westminster gym

The current state of the fitness center has drawn sharp criticism from Al Carns, a Labour leadership hopeful and veterans minister. A former Royal Marine, Al Carns informed the House's Administration Committee that the facility is so poorly designed that he had to personally remove panels from the ceiling to perform pull-ups. He described the environment as neither "welcoming" nor "attractive," specifically citing "decrepit" showers and a lack of basic infrastructure for professional attire.

According to the report, the lack of proper locker capacity means MPs often have to lay their formal suits on benches while changing. Al Carns noted that the current setup forces users to hang suits on doors, which frequently obstruct other people in the cramped changing area. This lack of functionality, he argues, fails to match the high-pressure standards of parliamentary life.

The £25,000 taxpayer shortfall for a basement gym

While the gym is operated by a charitable trust, the financial burden often falls on the public. The report reveals that taxapyers covered a £25,000 funding shortfall last year, in addition to providing the physical premises within the secure zone of the Westminster estate. When broken down by the 560 people holding annual memberships, the public purse is effectively contributing £44 per month for each member.

This subsidy has sparked criticism regarding the value for money provided to both the taxpayers and the members themselves . Users pay a monthly fee of £40, or £45 if towels are included,yet the House's Administration Committee found the "gym experience" to be expensive relative to its poor quality. The committee highlighted that regular roof leaks and dated décor have rendered the basement space unappealing.

Why only 3 per cent of 15,000 passholders use the facility

The low adoption rate of the onsite gym suggests a systemic failure in how wellness is integrated into the Westminster workday. As the report says, only about 3 per cent of the 15,000 Parliamentary passholders utilize the gym. This trend echoes a broader struggle in high-stress government environments to balance grueling schedules with physical health, though Al Carns argues that leaders should set a standard by prioritizing their own wellbeing.

The lack of accessibility is not just physical but temporal. Currently, the gym opens at 7 a.m. and closes at night, which Al Carns claims is outdated compared to the 24/7 access provided by most modern fitness centers. He suggested that installing CCTV could resolve the security concerns associated with open-access hours, allowing MPs to exercise around their unpredictable legislative schedules.

From slimming jabs to menopause support: the new fitness mandate

The push for an upgrade extends beyond heavy weights and CrossFit capabilities. Witnesses testifying before the House's Administration Committee emphasized a need for specialized health support, including resources for MPs navigating the menopause or those using slimming jabs. this indicates a shift in how the parliamentary community views the role of a workplace gym—moving from a simple weight room to a holistic health hub.

However, several critical details remain missing from the current proposal. The House's Administration Committee has not yet provided an estimated cost for the overhaul, leaving it unclear how much more taxpayer money will be required. Furthermore, it remains unverified whether the secure nature of the Westminster estate will actually permit the 24-hour access requested by Al Carns, or if the basement location is fundamentally too limited to support a "significant" expansion.