More than 65 works of art, including a photograph of Benjamin Disraeli, an engraved portrait of William Wilberforce, and a cartoon of Barbara Castle, have been misplaced by UK parliamentary authorities since 2024, according to a freedom of information (FoI) request.
The Press Association received a list of the missing items, which also include a photograph of Margaret Beckett, the UK’s first female foreign secretary, and a satirical cartoon by Martin Rowson from the 1995 Conservative leadership contest.
A parliamentary spokesperson said the collection is a working one, meaning items are frequently moved between locations. They added that none of the works have been permanently written off or are considered a financial loss, and five "missing" works have been found this year. Parliament is continuing to reduce the number of artworks recorded as missing through ongoing audits.