To wonder why MPs have cheap bars?

[bigbadshewolf]

Been mentioned in media a lot lately re 'drink fuelled' culture and there being several cheap bars in Houses of Parliament. Why are they there? Why are they cheap? Assuming it's public funds subsidising? Anybody know?

Is it not so that they have a private place to continue discussions without the fear of the public overhearing part conversations/sensitive information etc. I do not feel that in itself it is a negative thing to have as long as drinking is under control ie a glass of wine at lunch or while waiting to be called to vote. Being an MP generally speaking is not an easy job and comes with a lot of stress.

I have been a member is a few places that have at cost bars, through work and hobbies. Being in the military as well there was always cheap booze.

Being an MP generally speaking is not an easy job and comes with a lot of stress.
By that measure there should be a full free bar open 24x7 in every A&E!

No other employer would expect an employee to travel from Aberdeen to London every week, stay in a hotel or serviced apartment and pay for that themselves out of their salary.

Yes they would, if the job is located in London they would be expected to move there, not travel down from Aberdeen and get paid for it every week. If, as part of their job, they were expected to travel to Aberdeen, that would be chargeable to expenses.

Ifailed - the whole POINT of having MPs is to have one to represent their local community. Are you really suggesting that we in "the regions" have to vote for someone in London, or who will move to London immediately on election never to be seen again?? Ridiculous.

Every democracy in Europe has the system of a central parliamennt and people sending local representatives to that parliament.

When I started working in an office for a big household name in 2007 we had a bar and social club on site- we weren’t allowed to drink during the day but it was fair game on the cheap booze at 5pm- those were the days

Disgraceful. Bunch of over privileged arses. Meanwhile, “let’s reduce benefits for disabled kids”. How can they live with that?

The whole point of perks and expenses is to encourage ordinary people into politics.

The independently wealthy, corporate puppets and so on don't need cheap beer do they.

Strip everything back to a £60k salary and see who fills the roles.

And a pint in one of the bars costs £3.70, so above cost price I should think.

It's also a venue for hire, to cover running costs.

50% of what they sell there is to visitors.

PoppyPopcorn
No, I'm not suggesting all candidates should live in London!
I'm saying that anyone who takes a job in another part of the country would be expected to move there, or finance their commute out of their own pocket, it becomes their place of work. Any travel away from that should be covered by expenses.

At least if they are in their own bar they are not groping my daughter. Keep the useless pervs in their own cage.

I worked in banking in London from 1988 and lots of the branches and head office buildings had subsidised bars and restaurants. They were quite a perk!

They all got closed down in the early 90's as cost cutting started and some of the canteens were taken over by profit making companies.

Our local police station had a subsidised social club , as did the post office and the hospital my friend worked in.

No idea if those places are still open but I suspect not!

I can't remember his name but I remember watching an interview with an MP chuckling over the fact that he and a colleague had to literally drag another MP to vote as he was so drunk from drinking in Westminster he couldn't stand up without aid. I don't begrudge anyone a drink but when voting in laws I expect some level of sobriety.

I remember picking up a friend from the treasury once when they finished work, we went to a pub nearby and they said they couldn't talk freely as apparently journalists loitered there to pick up titbits

Actually at the time I was dating a journalist and he couldn't meet my friend as they had to declare when they'd come into contact with one, and they didn't want the hassle of having to do that, so can imagine a bar for MPs to relax in and talk more freely is a good idea

No idea about funding or subsidies for it however

Pengggwn I understand, and their main place of work is Westminster something one hopes all potential MPs are aware of. Travel to the constituency should be expensed. There is no requirement for an MP to live in their constituency, or even in the UK.

The least they can earn is £75k pa, plus a generous pension, there is no need whatsoever for subsidised catering at parliament, very few other workers in London have it and they all seem to manage pretty well taking in sandwiches or buying something to eat as needed.

No their main place of work is not Westminster. They have two places of work. One is Westminster, the other is their local constituency.
Any firm that sends an employee away from their home (which for an MP should be their constituency) would pay expenses for accommodation and subsistence.

Many workers, especially at that salary level, have subsidised on-site restaurants etc in order to facilitate speedy refuelling and sometimes entertaining.

There's no tax on the alcohol which is how.

The expenses I don’t agree with are the ridiculous amounts. Did one guy not try to claim £100 for a toilet roll holder. IKEA do them for a tenner, Ian Duncan Smith clamped £39 for breakfast!!! Wtf was he eating? £5 would be more reasonable. At my work you are expected to only claim reasonable expenses and will be challenged. Dinner for example, they will cover main course and a soft drink. Alcohol, sides and desserts are on you. They should only be allowed to claim a certain amount per year. If I was in charge i’d set up a ‘halls of residence’ for when they have to go to Westminster. They would walk to work as it would be within a certain distance and could claim £40 a day for meals. Boots meal deals all round!

NewPapa how does that work?

Why isn't tax applied?

Ferrier There is no requirement for an MP to live in their constituency. The vast majority of their work is based at Westminster, hence it is their place of work.

Who are these many workers that have have subsidised on-site restaurants ?

How ridiculous! There are plenty of businesses in London with subsidised / not for profit canteens for their workers - from Google to Pearson to Shell to Selfridges to all of the banks. Seriously, do you want to lose all talent in the country to massive corporates who can treat their employees much better and pay them a magnitude more than we can pay our MPs? I would not want to be an MP for anything, the money is not good for the hours worked, the stress, the scrutiny, the pressure on your family, the travel, the boring but important work - all those things and more. Take away any perks and you really will only get the old boys network doing it for a hobby. Do you think Zac Goldsmith gives a shit about saving £1.50 on a sandwich? But single mum MP Rosie Duffield might.

All those other companies with subsidised canteens don’t use money from taxpayers and then cut public spending. Scrap second homes, cap expenses, make them buy their own meals (they are well paid enough to afford it) and there is a big bit of the deficit sorted out!