After a vote by MPs yesterday, members of the public visiting the Houses of Parliament will no longer be referred to as "strangers".

The result of the free vote - 242 to 167 in favour of scrapping the age-old term - was met by cries of "shame" from Conservative backbenchers.

While shadow leader of the Commons Oliver Heald warned against "stripping away the charm and magic of Parliament", his opposite number in government Peter Hain said the phrase was "an ancient medieval practice...we should be rid of".

Visitors will now be referred to as "the public" or "members of the public".