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?

Good god ! I mean a working class person might sneak in good to keep them away eh.

Because they make the rules and they look after themselves.

Same with laws that still stand after hundreds of years that are designed to protect the rights of the rich and keep wealth in their families while the rest of us struggle and pay much higher taxes.

Unfortunately, more people are angry about kids getting free breakfasts than this lot stuffing their faces with 3 courses and popping wine corks on public coin.

I've always thought there should be flats in a big block, security provision, each studio has a basic bedroom with study area and ensuite, like students get in halls. A canteen on site , budget same as school/ nursing homes. No need for 2nd homes. Might concentrate the minds on provision for the poorest/ vulnerable at tge sane time.

I don’t care too much about the food, although why it has to be like fine dining god knows, I’ve never eaten in a work canteen that offers such a menu. But alcohol? No. No place of work that provides a public service should have alcohol available. You can argue food yes. Soft drinks yes. But what on earth alcohol in a workplace in 2025! Many maybe most companies these days have no alcohol at work policies and I don’t want anyone in any way in charge of running the country having a few before voting or whatever. I just don’t see any valid justification. Is there one?

The whole political system in this country is archaic. Why is Parliament at Westminster? Why can't MPs debate remotely from their constituencies using teams? Why are they paid so much and allowed to claim expenses and a second home on top of that? The whole thing needs to broken down and rebuilt, fit for the mid 21st century, not Victorian times.

I do a couple of days work for the Dept for Education every 6 months or so.

I'm given a £6 food voucher for my lunch. That £6 buys a decent portion of a really tasty cooked main, some fruit and a drink in the DfE cafe. In Central London.

The MPs make sure their depts are looked after too.

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?

I think that menu is a bit out of date, @MissMarplesNiece. 3 courses would be more like £20. To answer your question, set lunch menu at the Ivy Brasserie just down the road from the HoP is £24.95 for 3 courses.

Most of the catering at the HoP is more canteen style rather than fine dining.

@Justasmallgless there are student union bars on site at Guy’s, Charing Cross and the Royal London Hospital.

Student union bars are just that - not for the general population of the hospital surely?

and you need NUS card or similar to get the subsidies?

Cheap alcohol plus people making decisions on behalf of the rest of us.
What could possibly go wrong?
Oh wait......

Seems like a reasonable deal to me. I've worked in lots of public sector places with an entertaining in house budget and subsidised canteens. I do not like franchised cafes in places/jobs where eating at your desk/in your office isn't an option be they public or private sector

Yes I think they should have this sort of accommodation . Get your room and bathroom what else do they need really?

Eating a school dinner on a plastic tray, with the dc coughing and sneezing all over it, in exchange for supervising the dc at dinnertime, is not quite the same as the menu quoted by a pp in a civilised dining room, so let's not pretend here.

Or, here's a thought, taking in their own pack lunch like everyone else ?

Plus, all MPs don't have individual security all day.

I've said this for years.

Like a halls of residence for MPs who need to stay over for the 1/2 week they are there. No idea why we are paying for 2nd homes.

I imagine same as any job where you have to attend a different location to regular work place- you can claim lunch as expenses and travel to / from as an expense

Not where I work you can't.

Local Authority. You take your own packed lunch. There has been no budget for 'expenses' (other than mileage - and there are restrictions on that) for many, many years, because LAs budgets have been cut to the bone since 2010.

This is what happens when you are paid from the public purse....... oh, wait.

In the same week they are taking a free hot meal away from some DC they will be guzzling down 3 cours meals washed down with a good wine. It is sickening.

I've been to literally 100s of public sector workplaces where you can get soup and a slice of bread, costs around £3-4 quid, basically cost price plus a bit. Most of my young colleagues can’t run to that and bring leftovers in as do, I cos I’m single with expensive children.

My private sector friends genuinely could not believe there were no coffee and tea- making supplies in my office. No coffee &tea for external visitors including international delegations flying in from Japan, Korea, etc. if you want to extend basic hospitality you will need to buy drinks yourself, for guests.

Renember, self-employed can rebate anything that’s a “business expense” and knock it off their income tax liability. PAYE folk have no such leeway …

Same here although a different public sector employer.

i don’t think people here have a very realistic picture of what working in the PS is like ;)

If it’s so cushty, the come and join us! We always need intelligent, rational, non-partisan, impartial staff. Extra points for a hair shirt and trust fund. You’ll need it ;)

Omg is this true?

It is true. He admitted it.

I’m curious- Did any of those places serve alcohol as routine?

The only works canteens I’ve been to have been private industry or academic and neither have alcohol available. In fact, the private sector ones mainly had strict drugs and alcohol policies, so even if you went out for lunch you wouldn’t drink alcohol and go back to work, or risk immediate disciplinary. Many companies also have drug and alcohol random testing regimes. And also expenses claiming policies or contracts with client will stipulate that they don’t reimburse alcoholic drinks. In the 1970s and 80s it was very common though to go to the pub at lunch and then back to work. HOC needs to get into reality and current times.

@Undrugged can I also ask you please if alcohol is an everyday item in these canteens or similar?

The expenses scandal showed the sense of entitlement and sheer greed of many MPs Remember .duck houses, pruning wisteria, even paper clips. Now it’s taking tickets to events worth 100’s of pounds .
And given how many have second/ third jobs, it’s a part time role.They should pay full price for their expensive food and stop stealing from taxpayers.

A public sector site I used to work on had a subsidised coffee bar.

I have no idea whether the food from there was cheaper but the coffee was definitely a £ or so cheaper than identical high street place.

I work for a public body and we have free tea and coffee for staff and visitors.

On MPs wages the problem is it has nevsr beem fully reformed form the times when it was an unpaod job done by the wealthy. Wages helped mlre people beocme MPs but it is now in this half and half situation. I would increase the basic wage and remove alot of tbe "perks".

That said I am middle manager in a public body who earns simailr to MPs and you would have to triple the wage before I would even consider being an MP. It looks like a horrific job - long houes, public abuse, real risk of attack, insecure employment, constant travelling. All for £91k - that can fuck right off.