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Original poster

Why do MPs get subsidised food?

195 replies

IShotTheDeputyItWasMe · 27/03/2025 13:51

Ok, if they are travelling, they should not be out of pocket. Like many workers, they should be able to claim reasonable expenses depending how long they are away on work trips etc.

However, I've never known any pubpic sector workplace put alcohol on expenses as standard. I've also never known any workplace to pay for their workers lunches when they are in their normal place of work.

Some companies may run a subsidised canteen but that will come put of the company profits, not the public purse.

Basically, why do we pay to subsidise food and then pay again to cover unreasonable food costs?

OP posts:
CoffeeBeansGalore · 27/03/2025 17:39

And why are their utility bills subsidised by upto £3400 per year?
The pensioners lose the £300 winter fuel allowance in the name of cost cutting, yet MPs can still claim theirs.
They all spout the good intentions promising the world. Then get their snouts right in the trough and screw the people who elected them.

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 27/03/2025 17:39

All MPs should pay their own food bills.

LizTruss · 27/03/2025 17:39

Because they are diligently working away, very hard, for the benefit of the people, without a thought for themselves.

They slave away, often until quite late into the evening (7:00, sometimes nearly 8:00) and it would be easy for them to forget to eat altogether if it wasn't made available for them, at their workplace, very cheaply - before they toddle off to their subsidised second home.

ilovesooty · 27/03/2025 17:39

Don't they have to pay for their constituency staff out of their salaries?

GasPanic · 27/03/2025 17:37

S0CKPUPPET · 27/03/2025 17:33

Unlike hospital staff, ambulance crew , firefighters, police, utility workers, lorry drivers , public transport workers, care home staff etc who all work 9-5 only .

Show quote history

No they are actually on shift work. So they can prepare decent meals off shift if they wish.

MissMarplesNiece · 27/03/2025 17:37

It's one big gravy train. I often wonder what they actually spend their salaries on when they can claim expenses for so many of the things that the rest of us have to pay for. Even then they're not satisfied and we get MPs like Pat McFadden, current Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, who rented the house next door to the one he owned and claimed over £40,000 on expenses. Nice work if you can get it.

IHeartHalloumi · 27/03/2025 17:33

GasPanic · 27/03/2025 17:30

They do sometimes work crazy hours late at night etc so my guess is that it is in someway compensation for the fact that they can't always prepare their own meals.

Otherwise they would probably be living out of a sandwich box and eating tuna baps crisps and diet coke 24/7.

Unlike shift workers in the NHS who get - oh no wait we get a canteen that shuts at 7.

S0CKPUPPET · 27/03/2025 17:33

GasPanic · 27/03/2025 17:30

They do sometimes work crazy hours late at night etc so my guess is that it is in someway compensation for the fact that they can't always prepare their own meals.

Otherwise they would probably be living out of a sandwich box and eating tuna baps crisps and diet coke 24/7.

Unlike hospital staff, ambulance crew , firefighters, police, utility workers, lorry drivers , public transport workers, care home staff etc who all work 9-5 only .

LollyLand · 27/03/2025 17:32

Weren’t some exposed to having claimed ridiculous things in expenses? I remember the news stories a couple of years ago.

user1471538275 · 27/03/2025 17:31

As for the House of Lords - they need culling severely with only people with useful experience and qualifications being allowed in.

Expenses should be minimal as it is a priveleged position.

GasPanic · 27/03/2025 17:30

They do sometimes work crazy hours late at night etc so my guess is that it is in someway compensation for the fact that they can't always prepare their own meals.

Otherwise they would probably be living out of a sandwich box and eating tuna baps crisps and diet coke 24/7.

Almahart · 27/03/2025 17:30

I agree. I used to be in the civil service, we didn't even get teaspoons or milk to put in our tea

SpikyHairy · 27/03/2025 17:29

Is it actually subsidised, or is it just not profit-making ? If restaurants just charged the cost of providing the food and paying wages then the food they served would be a lot cheaper. There's presumably no rent to pay either.

CatsChin · 27/03/2025 17:28

It's bad isn't it? When you think how small the meal allowance is everywhere else.

People will never take MPs' intentions seriously until this sort of thing is abolished.

user1471538275 · 27/03/2025 17:27

They are public sector workers.

They should act like it and be treated like it (which will be a shock for them)

They should not accept any freebees other than trivial or token gifts (ie box of chocs/wine) like other public sector workers

They should pay for daily work expenses to their main office like other public sector workers - thinking NHS - so pay for their parking/travel/food

If we get the 'need the best people' rubbish - I would ask do we not need the best people to run our hospitals and other public services?

JohnTheRevelator · 27/03/2025 17:26

Because they are a bunch of freeloaders.

Awakeatnite · 27/03/2025 17:25

Well they need the alcohol to cope with their highly stressful jobs

MoreChocPls · 27/03/2025 17:24

Because they are in it for themselves. Selfish people.

BlueMum16 · 27/03/2025 17:21

They should pay for their own lunch regardless where they are. I have to. I do not understand how they justify this.

Cuttings need to start with expenses, limit evening meals too and only when away from home.

I work in a corporate job and can't even claim a coffee.

CarpetKnees · 27/03/2025 17:17

I agree.

I presume, originally, it would have been the principle of a 'canteen' for the MPs who are traveling in from their constituencies or staying away from home 4 days a week, but I think they can afford to sort their lunch, on the salaries they are on.

Much worse, and worthy of investigation though is the shocking expenses claimed by members of the House of Lords, where unfortunately only a small proportion of them seem to take the role seriously.