NITS are being driven out of the House of Commons.
MPs will be banned from sharing hairbrushes — in case they spread headlice.

Combs in washrooms have been removed under health and safety regulations aimed at protecting members.

But the move has infuriated veteran parliamentarians — who have blasted meddling Commons authorities for nit-picking.

The brushes have been used by MPs for centuries to smarten up before entering the Chamber or meeting visitors.

Tory Anthony Steen, 65, fumed in the Commons yesterday: “Health and safety have run riot. It’s lunacy.”

But Speaker Michael Martin brushed aside the complaints, saying: “MPs can bring in their own combs.”

The regulations are also intended to halt any potential spread of blood-borne diseases hepatitis and Aids.

Lib-Dem MP Nick Harvey, spokesman for the Commons Commission, defended the ban.

He said the all-party administration committee had ordered an analysis of the risks from sharing brushes.

He said: “The risk of anything being spread was low — but it did exist. Anything could be spread if someone had a slight cut on the head.

“The administration committee decided to err on the side of caution and remove them.”

Mr Harvey added: “Some long-serving Members are used to finding hairbrushes and combs in cloakrooms but nothing would have ever tempted me to use these objects.”

Tempers were also boiling last night after claims a kettle Mr Steen used was confiscated and his staff left to use water from a communal cistern.

The MP said: “My secretary scalded herself using the cisterns so they have issued first aid kits.”

The House authorities are sensitive about hygiene, having fought a long-standing battle against rats, who thrive because the building is so close to the Thames.