People waiting to see the Queen lying in state have expressed their anger after it emerged that MPs can jump the queue with up to four guests.
While thousands of members of the public stand in line for hours in order to pay their respects to the late monarch at Westminster Hall, politicians are able to gain immediate access by showing their parliamentary security pass.
They are also entitled to four timed-entry tickets for family and friends.
The Queen's coffin arrived at Westminster on Wednesday and will remain lying in state until her funeral on Monday.
Dozens of MPs had already been given the chance to pay their respects when they were invited to witness the arrival of the Queen's coffin.
The Daily Mail reported that their special treatment had not been well received by those queueing for a chance to say goodbye to the country's longest-reigning monarch.
Julie Newman, 56, said: “It is an abuse of privilege. I don’t mind queuing, because everybody queues. But there is no excuse for queue-jumping, it’s not fair.”
Dexter Bowls, 20, said: “For something like this, it is not fair. They’re not going to work at this time.”
Others complained that there should not be an allocation of time-entry tickets for MPs to hand-out, while some felt MPs should be forced to queue given that parliament is currently suspended.
The treatment of politicians contrasts to that of the police officers currently taking part in a massive security operation.
There is no special access for officers to pay their respects, and they have been told not to visit while on duty nearby.
A police source told the Daily Mail: “It’s disappointing but not surprising that MPs are able to jump the queue while the thousands of police officers working 12-hour days with cancelled holidays won’t get any opportunities to say goodbye.”
Staff working for MPs are also reportedly unhappy that they are not being given priority access like their employers.
It is reported that 140 MPs and 140 members of the Lords were invited to receive the Queen's coffin.
* This article has been amended after publication to reflect that Jonathan Reynolds MP attended the arrival of the coffin at Westminster Hall but did not attend the lying-in-state.
