The Guardian

Two Freemasons' lodges set up at Westminster are continuing to operate

Integrity or influence? Inside the world of modern Freemasons
The Central Lobby of the Houses of Parliament. Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian

Two Freemasons’ lodges set up more than 80 years ago for members of parliament and political journalists are continuing to operate, the Guardian has learned.

New Welcome Lodge, which set up to recruit MPs, peers and parliamentary staff, and Gallery Lodge, established for members of the political press corps known as the lobby, both remain active, according to Freemasonry records.

The United Grand Lodge of England says that no MPs or lobby journalists are members of those lodges. However, it has confirmed that several MPs are Freemasons.

A third lodge called the Alfred Robbins Lodge, which was also set up for journalists, also continues

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