Why do MPs get subsidised food?

[IShotTheDeputyItWasMe]

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?

Very very few workplaces now have a canteen. £3-7 is extremely cheap for a hot meal in central London most workers will pay far more than that.

Public sector here and yeah we count ourselves lucky to get cheap instant coffee for free. Nothing is subsidised, the vending machines our place charge a fortune for a measly bag of crisps.
And we earn way less than MP's 🙄

You're talking about the house of commons? Presumably it's because they can't exactly just nip to Tesco and grab a meal deal.

But thousands of people work in the house of commons. And most of them aren't well paid.

My workplace runs a subsidised deli.

Their main office is their constituency office.

Very very few MPs claim for meals on their expenses. People seem to be calling for a tightening up that's already happened.

MPs and visitors should be paying market rates for their food. Maybe there should be £1 added to each meal, with proceeds going to charities fighting child poverty in the most deprived areas of London.

Uber Eats delivers in London, so I hear.

DH's brother was a chef in the Houses of Parliament. He had some great stories about the MP's and them eating better than the then Queen.

£7 million in public money was used to subsidise dining in the house of commons, it's appalling. Nurses have to pay for parking and earn 1/4-1/3 of an MP's salary.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/jul/12/food-bank-calls-for-end-to-subsidised-dining-for-mps

If they need to stay late at work they should fo what most London offices do and offer a free takeaway.

Who cares if they get free lunch!! I get free lunch at my school every day too.

I’m sorry but Parliament IS theur place of work! They aren’t the only workers who have to be at two places.

And there are always restrictions on how you can spend. No way would a company or the CivilService would agree to pay back alcohol and the posh meals found there!

So yes, history and then being ‘gentlemen’, whatever it means these days.
But at the time where the government is happy to make 50.000 more children living in poverty, 300.000 more adults, then it’s really hypocritical and keaves a very bad taste.
If austerity there is, then MPs should be affected too. Not safe in their little bubble.

I feel it’s true for other of their expenses btw,

That's incredibly unusual, unless you work in a private school.

The Members Dining room. On the menu:
Pressed duck leg and caper terraine with celeriac and mustard remoularde and sour dough toast £4.52
Pan fried salmon with courgette provancale, buttered croquettes potatoes, black olive crumb and a chive cream sauce £7.33
Gooseberry & hazelnut cake with creme fraiche £2.70
Wonder where else in London you can get that sort of food at that sort of price?

To those talking about long hours in the House of Commons etc, the latest the House sits is on Mondays when it's from 2.30 pm to 10.30pm. Tuesday & Wednesday its 11.30am until 7.30pm, Thursday 9.30am till 5.30 and most MPs go back to their Constituencies on Friday. So no more than an 8 hour day and as anyone who has watched Parliament channel on TV will know the House is rarely even half full.

I appreciate there are committees etc going on but I doubt if their hours are any different.

Yeah I can imagine all those guys on e-bikes going through security.

Or maybe the MPs waiting in a big crowd outside ready to snatch food from them as they turn up.

No security risks there at all.

Hospitals have bars too for workers- cheap prices for staff, same thing.

Not private. SEN. But yeah my sister works at a private school and gets free lunches.

I'd be happier about subsidising late night food if NHS workers got a guaranteed right to something similar. It's OK that they have a work canteen but they should be getting coffee and unexciting canteen food, not having subsidised alcohol and fine dining. Doesn't seem too much to ask.

Suppose it depends whether you factor in the cost of providing the MPs with security when they are dining out, and the cost and time of transiting backwards and forwards to all those restaurants of course.

In the NHS website get no discount on food or drink at the hospital. I don't think MPs should get a discount. Why not take a packed lunch like we have to if we want to keep things cheap?

There’s a fund now called the ‘Fix it fund’ where we can bid for things such as teaspoons and coffee makers. Anything small and inexpensive that’s not allowed to be bought from office budget. Definitely not milk though!

There is a real disconnect in the CS with extreme penny pinching in some areas then massive waste in others. I am Home Office but spent a few years in FCDO and those Foreign Office people spend like crazy.

Agree the MPs should lead by example. Subsidised food not appropriate.

Police officers have many restrictions on their private lives too, probably more than MPs and for their whole career. It impacts on children too. Off duty you have to be so careful but if you don’t intervene when you see a crime then you face discipline.

Very few canteens left now after austerity and those working shifts have to take food with them. The number of shifts you get kept on working late is ridiculous and although you can claim expenses for them, not many do as you jump through hoops for it. And rightly so, as it’s public money.

Turkeys don’t vote for Christmas though so I can’t see any changes to MP privileges coming any time soon.

I work in the public sector (support staff in an FE college).

We are still expected to be in the office four days a week during the summer, when the students and lecturers are off - except the canteen is closed for the full six week break. The college is in a very quiet residential area and the closest shop/cafe is a 15 minute walk away. Senior management send out a helpful end-of-term reminder that there are vending machines in the foyer, though 🙃

It wouldn't kill MPs to take a sandwich to work.

Me and DH have solved all of this
We plan to build a new Parliament near The NEC and have a (nice) hotel attached with a big car park and good rail links to everywhere.
Rooms and food is free and a decent standard but not Michelin or anything
No need for 2nd homes, expenses or anything

Yes I'm sure my local NHS trust hospital has "the needle arms" that sell booze to their consultants and nurses.

They also pay the least council tax!

In 2024/25, Wandsworth has the lowest council tax in the UK, with a Band D bill of £961. Westminster is second, with a Band D bill of £973.

Laughable really, except it isn’t…

If I recall my Permanent Secretary correctly, it's some like;
The latest time the UK Parliament can stay open depends on the type of business being conducted. Generally:

• The House of Commons and House of Lords usually sit from 11:30 AM or 12:00 PM, and sittings typically end by 10:30 PM on weekdays.
• However, there are extended sittings, especially during debates, voting, or in the case of important legislation. These extended sittings can sometimes last until midnight or even beyond.
• In rare cases, Parliament may sit through the night (often referred to as "sitting until the small hours") for crucial debates or voting sessions, such as during significant votes on legislation.

So, while it's rare, Parliament can theoretically stay open until 'very late', even past midnight, during particularly important or contentious debates.

But I think we automatically get a box of Rover Assortment biscuits to rummage through if it we are there 'very late' - I know I did!

Most MPs don't get security when they're out and about.