The Screw Plot is the accused assassination attempt on Queen Anne of England in 1708. In St. Paul's Cathedral, loose screws were discovered in the building's supporting beams above the seating area for the Queen. It was assumed that the loose screws were designed to allow the beams to fall on the Queen and other government figures during her thanks-giving for the victory of Oudenarde. The Tories leaked to the press that the Whigs were to blame. Although it was later proved to be a misconception, and was indeed simply the result of inefficient construction work, tensions between the parties grew even stronger.