'Journalist' arrested in UK Parliament after row breaks out

A police officer received minor injuries in the incident.

Commons authorities confirmed the incident was not terrorist related or linked to the G20 meeting of world leaders in London later this week.

The authorities said a police officer stopped two individuals in a private area of the Palace of Westminster - reported to be close to the offices of senior ministers and the Commons chamber itself - after one of them became aggressive.

He was taken to a local police station for further inquiries.

The incident - involving two people who did not have House of Commons passes - will raise fresh questions about security at Westminster.

Parliamentary security has been breached on several occasions in recent years, notably when pro-hunting supporters invaded the House of Commons chamber in 2004.

Last year protesters from the Plane Stupid campaign group scaled the roof of Parliament to demonstrate against new airport runways.

Mr Pickles was appointed party chairman in January, having previously been shadow communities secretary.

He was hosting a reception for journalists.

The incident happened in the corridor behind the Speaker's Chair, just yards from the Commons Chamber where MPs were debating Africa.

However, the operation of the Houses of Commons and Lords were not affected.

Sky News political correspondent Jon Craig said police had confirmed the man was not a Commons pass-holder and had been held following an argument with another guest.

Scotland Yard has told Sky News the pair left the party and continued their argument in a corridor which is a passholders-only area.

One of the guests became aggressive and a police officer attended.

The officer was struck during the altercation and CAS spray waas used to subdue the man and arrest him.