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?

MPs are paid too much as it is. They are unable to relate to the normal working person. Paying them even more would make them even more out of touch, and also increase inequality.

Not in the public sector body I used to work for. And it probably isn’t in the other UK devolved parliaments,but the UK one seem to be an exception.

A long time ago - must be 25 years I visited the UN building in Geneva with my DH who wanted to look at some documents in the library there,in connection with his work - and beer and wine was available in the canteen there.

I agree. I remember thinking that the Olympic village would have been perfect when people were asking what would happen to it afterwards.

Just out of curiosity what did happen to it ?

I’m interested to know what are those public sector places seeing that there are also posters on this thread working fur LA having the exact opposite experience…..

Plus tbh £4 for a bowl of soup and a piece of bread??? What a rip off.
And still more expensive than what MPs get. No matter how much you can try and convince people it’s normal, they’re still subsidised. Why?

I can afford one meal a day if I'm lucky

I think it’s a mix of business and residential use now but I’m not entirely sure. Would have saved money if they’d put the MP’s up in there though because London rental prices seem even more crazier than the rest of the country.

@OonaStubbs out of interest, what do you think is a fair wage for MPs. Considering the hours and skills needed? What would you be prepared to do it for?

I agree with op about subsidised food.

But. I think we are apathetic about politics in the UK and there is a general trend towards undervaluing democracy. I do think some politicians take the piss, but I think that most go into politics because they genuinely want to make a difference. I think democracy is worth paying for, including MPs' salary increases as appropriate (and recommended by independent panel). Upholding democracy is so important. Just look at Russia for proof of that. MPs have also died for putting themselves in the firing line - literally. It's a job few could stomach.

If all MPs were housed in the Olympic village or any one site it would be a huge security risk… It would cost a fortune to police it.

You are probably right it could possibly be a target,

Sorry I don't believe they work 12 hour shifts Prime Minister probably should But didn't he say he wasn't going to work Fridays !

Whatafuster cluck above isn't a democracy meant to be where the general public can have opinions Or is that it have your own opinions but the MPs will just decide How many people have succeeded in getting an appointment and most unlikely of all influenced decisions such as schools not being closed

The local labour MP never appears on parliament do they still get accomodation in London on top of everything else

A parliamentary democracy literally is one where the elected representatives decide.

It’s as predictable as it is depressing how many people on this thread and others sound off about how awful MPs are without seemingly knowing what an MP’s role is.

That’s before we get to the people who say ‘All MPs are on the take’ or whatever without being able to even name one let alone actually knowing any.

Like any group of 650 people, some MPs are wrong’uns. One wonders which group of buffoons elected them. Ah right, that would be us.

And, like any large workplace, Parliament has silly procedures that need changing. But to say that it’s all completely broken (whilst suggesting few actual practical alternatives that would work) is wrong and unhelpful.

And this thread hasn't even touched on the "freebies" that MPs get offered & often take. These seem to range from gift boxes of food snacks - handy when you can't get to the Members Dining room for the Rib-eye steak, handcut chips, mushrooms & tomatoes for £11.26 - to visits to sporting events, concerts, membership of exclusive clubs, trips overseas, clothing, spectacles......and on and on. Its quite reasonable to ask why lobbyists are giving these gifts to MPs and to want to know what they are getting in return. If MPs weren't being influenced by all these freebies, why would Companies be spending all this money trying to influence them?

I think he said he was going to try and be home on Friday evenings I think that was probably wishful thinking though.

Fridays are constituency days for MPs. He probably meant that he wouldn’t be working g as PM that day but in his constituency. Holding surgeries etc.

Starmer said he trird to carve out Friday evenings for family time. His family are Jewish so Friday dinner is a big thing. MPs are allowed a personal life.

And the PM is lucky in that his constituency is literally within walking distance of Westminster. Imagine if your constituency was in Cumbria or west Wales or Scotland. All that travelling every week really isn’t healthy.
The majority of MPs work extremely long hours across 7 days, often on the move away from family, with an extremely unforgiving electorate most of whom have a view of them formed without any direct knowledge whatsoever. Obviously they are well paid relative to average salaries but anyone who thinks being an MP is an easy life is, I fear, mistaken.

Article in the Guardian today about Ministers accepting freebies.
www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/mar/28/uk-ministers-need-to-ask-why-they-are-offered-freebies-and-who-loses-out

No.

"The basic annual salary of a Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons is £91,346, plus expenses, from April 2024. In addition, MPs are able to claim allowances to cover the costs of running an office and employing staff, and maintaining a constituency residence or a residence in London."

They can afford lunch.

Nonsense. There are plenty of MPs with senior level experience in business (and other well-paid professions) so the salary has not put them off.

It’s disgusting. They have a very big salary already!
What makes them any more deserving than NHS staff where canteens close at 7pm? Should be the same for MPs.
MPs get big salaries but also loads of monetary perks. It’s a gravy train.

Of course constituecy staff are no paid out of MPs salaries - how many staff do you think they could afford to pay out of a gross salary of £91k?

Honestly, people seem to lose all common sense when it comes to MPs salaries.