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£90,000 worth of champagne ..

(34 Posts)
CvD66 Tue 02-Jan-24 10:54:46

..bought in the House of Lords last year (FOI details obtained). While it is claimed that this was mostly bought by tourists, sadly no figures were given to support this. Would you pay £57 for a bottle of champagne in the gift shop? It cannot be ignored that this is an exceptional quantity of champagne = 1589 bottles! Given the latest appointments (particularly from the 45 day PM Liz Truss) is this institution in need of reform or even better, abolishment?

mokryna Thu 04-Jan-24 12:56:22

As long as it isn’t subsidized, like we are told the restaurant is, it doesn’t matter what people buy.

Elegran Thu 04-Jan-24 13:03:48

ronib

The Guardian article points out that the champagne is not paid for by the taxpayer so unless we have gone full Communist, that’s okay? I suppose we could ask exactly what champagne is served to the Lords and at what cost?

If it is sold in the shop then it is hardly being served to MPs free.

knspol Thu 04-Jan-24 13:24:27

I wouldn't be surprised if the members pay less than this in their own subsidised restaurants.

grandMattie Thu 04-Jan-24 13:41:03

Perhaps, vq, the upper house members should rotate, so many from each section for an agreed amount of time - year, two years, months.... Also, the Lords must actually spend time in the house debating, not just signing in to get their attendance fee.

vampirequeen Thu 04-Jan-24 15:25:50

I totally agree grandMattie. If they don't spend time actually working then no attendance fee.

ileea Thu 04-Jan-24 16:39:33

As a tourist , I would pay that amount for a bottle of champagne 🍾 from the gift shop. I think it would be a great souvenir and I seldom drink.

Cold Thu 04-Jan-24 18:28:53

I think the main issue is that the catering and bars in the House of Commons and House of Lords are subsidised by the public purse. So, at a time when many cannot afford to live, MPs and Lords get cheap food and drinks and the taxpayer picks up the bill to the tune of several million pounds per year.

Grantanow Thu 11-Jan-24 18:01:07

£90,000? A mere drop in the ocean of life when set against overall consumption from the Government Wine Cellar, I imagine, when we host all the international meetings at Lancaster House, Chequers and elsewhere.