Clegg initially tried to deny the existence of the Commons booze subsidy on LBC this morning, but when presented with the facts by Nick Ferrari the Deputy PM gave in: “I haven’t seen the prices, but my knee jerk reaction is why should MPs be subsidised for drinking in the House of Commons?”
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The £5.8 million subsidy would be a good place to begin, but it is also worth pointing out that since parliament’s watering holes are inside a Royal Palace, many of the bars pay no rent or business rates whatsoever. Research by the ASI calculates that they are saving £1.4 million-a-year as a result. All at the taxpayer’s expense…
Here are some of the other posts on the issue Guido has put out over the years:
- Hungry for Taxes: MPs Lunch Subsidy Now £8,823 Per Annum
- Hungry For Taxes: Lunchtime Robbery
- Each MPs’ Lunch Subsidy Costs Six Hospital Meals
- Food in Parliament is Twice as Expensive for Public as MPs
- Hungry for Taxes: Compare and Contrast Today’s Menus
- Wives, Girlfriends, Predecessors
- Speaker Ignores Parliament Booze Subsidy
- Sun Backs Guido’s Subsidy Campaign
- Parliament’s I-rasher-nal Breakfast Prices
