Liz Truss claims £3000 of taxpayers money for a “business” lunch

A 'let them eat cake' government in every way. Robbing the poor to give to the rich.

It wasn't 2 bottles of gin, it was two shots of gin, £11.50 each! A whole bottle would have cost much more than that ? (a picture of the bill was posted on twitter, in case you're wondering)
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I am amazed that in the whole of London, with its myriad dining spots, the only suitable venue was owned by a tory donor, amazed, I tell you...

The Times reported 2 bottles of Tanqueray gin…

Do what I do and do what you can on the little you have because of the government I am part of. Have the members of this cabinet no idea of what "Setting a good example means?"
Or are they trying to bring about the fall of the house of Johnston replaced with a woman who empathisises with nothing but her own push to the top.

Another example of how far removed from real life these people are. How on earth can they ever empathise with the JAMS (Theresa May's Just About Managing)?

Must admit, I'm getting rather fed up with being governed by comparatively rich people intent on becoming even richer.

The lunch was for 10 people including the US trade representative, would you rather she hosted them at the local McDonalds, KFC or Wetherspoon’s?

Why do we put up with this stuff?

In the year 2020/21 Conservative MP Daniel Kawczynski claimed £8,244 for polish language tuition.

In 2019 the Polish born to Polish parents MP described himself as an 'almost fluent Polish speaker'

During the same period Rosena Allin-Khan also claimed for Polish lessons - £234.01.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10251223/Taxpayers-foot-bill-Tory-MP-22k-worth-Polish-lessons.html#:~:text=Daniel%20Kawczynski%20%2D%20Polish%20%2D%20%C2%A38%2C244.03

I'm not at all shocked at the price, but shocked to see someone hoping to rise in the ranks going down exactly the same boring route.

Snouts in the trough!?

No moral compass whatsoever when many of us are struggling to just pay our outgoings. I’d like to stick them all on an island and make them live on £70 per week for 6 months during winter. Maybe then, they might have some empathy for those in dire need.

I agree with Angela Rainer’s assessment of our government.

But ayse if you stick them all on an island, by the end of the 6 months some will somehow have turned that £70 into £70,000. That's how they work.

GrannyGravy13

The lunch was for 10 people including the US trade representative, would you rather she hosted them at the local McDonalds, KFC or Wetherspoon’s?

Oh…is that the alternative ?

McDonalds and KFC obviously aren't Tory donors or close relations of Zac Goldsmith.

Also, the restaurant halved its bills for immediate payment (??!??) You don't get that in Maccy Ds or Col Saunders.

The original post suggested the House of Commons restaurant. I would have thought that would be a brilliant option as it would be an experience the trade representatives would really appreciate as they couldn't buy it elsewhere.

I can recommend Rules as probably being in between price wise.

Josieann

I can recommend Rules as probably being in between price wise.

One of our favourite restaurants in London (and the oldest) our AS.No.4 and his wife have now added it to their favourite list also.

Networking goes on in all levels of society whether it be in restaurants owned by wealthy folk or Joe Bloggs giving his mates son a job whilst in the local cafe/pub where his wife/relative works.

There are more important things to worry about in the world at the moment

Josieann

But ayse if you stick them all on an island, by the end of the 6 months some will somehow have turned that £70 into £70,000. That's how they work.

Not maybe if they were left with a poor internet connection and had to provide for their basic needs. Still it’s all pie in the sky.

That is a shit load of booze for a lunch? how many of them were there?

For several years, during the Blair and then Brown PM-ships, I was a member of a government department dealing with certain aspects of international trade. We regularly wined and dined visiting foreign delegations, often using the most exclusive (and therefore expensive) London restaurants. This was reciprocated when we visited their countries - particularly when ministers on either side were involved. There's nothing unusual about this level of expenditure, nor is it a Tory-specific thing.

GrannyGravy13

The lunch was for 10 people including the US trade representative, would you rather she hosted them at the local McDonalds, KFC or Wetherspoon’s?

Truss would have been well advised to follow civil service advice.

It is as much to do with the optics as anything else.

Arrogance as well as apparent corruption is not a good look, and is something the Tory party can I’ll afford given their position in the polls.

GrannyGravy13

The lunch was for 10 people including the US trade representative, would you rather she hosted them at the local McDonalds, KFC or Wetherspoon’s?

You cannot be serious! There are restaurants that fall within the middle price range.

However, having looked up Robin Birley I find that he is the son of Mark Birley, founder of Annabel's. Annabel was the daughter of the Marquess of Londonderry and became the mistress of James Goldsmith.

Perhaps LT is hoping that some of that past glamour, by association, will rub off on her.

Being bi,,,y Wetherspoons would be more appropriate for LT. After, it;s owner is also a Tory donor and might not have charged her at all.

Lucca

The Times reported 2 bottles of Tanqueray gin…

Here is the bill:

Since when did a whole bottle of Tanqueray gin cost £11.50 in a high end restaurant? Those are single shots...

The press are just copying and pasting; no critical thinking involved

GrannyGravy13

The lunch was for 10 people including the US trade representative, would you rather she hosted them at the local McDonalds, KFC or Wetherspoon’s?

We have spent more per person on a Lunch in Edinburgh and we weren't after a trade deal.

Bodach

For several years, during the Blair and then Brown PM-ships, I was a member of a government department dealing with certain aspects of international trade. We regularly wined and dined visiting foreign delegations, often using the most exclusive (and therefore expensive) London restaurants. This was reciprocated when we visited their countries - particularly when ministers on either side were involved. There's nothing unusual about this level of expenditure, nor is it a Tory-specific thing.

I don't think your defence stands, Bodach, when it was her department's civil servants who were advising her to go somewhere a bit less expensive.