The Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) has published its 5th annual report on Parliament’s working culture, and after a series of investigations, has concluded alcohol is a “frequent factor” in fuelling inappropriate “incidents” across the estate, with “blurred boundaries” between professional and personal conduct leading to bad behaviour. Certain MPs are partial to a few sherbets…
“A number of the cases included the presence of alcohol and the culture of drinking in Westminster. Alcohol was a frequent factor in incidents in bars on the parliamentary estate (leading to intimidating behaviour like shouting and swearing), external functions connected to parliamentary activities, or where colleagues socialised at bars/pubs after such events.”
Strangers’ Bar is a particular hotspot for legless legislators. In recent years, Neil Coyle and Mary Foy have made headlines for screaming obscenities after a glass or four on the terrace. Others, like Chris Pincher, Patrick Grady, and Chris Matheson have been well-oiled on or near the estate before getting into all sorts of trouble. This will inevitably lead to more calls for Parliament’s watering holes to wind back or shut down entirely, rather than barring the wrong ‘uns when they step out of line. Although the last time this suggestion came up, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle wasn’t having any of it…
After a long, hard day on the picket lines campaigning for social justice while kids miss their schooling, the striking teachers in the vanguard of the National Education Union retired to Strangers’ Bar in Parliament at around 3 o’clock today along with Labour MPs Grahame Morris and Mary Foy. A thirsty parliamentary co-conspirator says the “place is full of them” and you “can’t get in” because it’s so packed. Must be getting the chardonnay in before Hunt makes it more expensive…
Performative anger is spreading on Twitter like a new Covid variant. Partly thanks to an Adam Boulton tweet, a photo of parliament’s terrace supposedly showing MPs and staffers drinking while the late Queen lies in state just down the corridor has prompted questions about decorum. Guido was surprised to see the photo, not least because Strangers appeared closed on Tuesday night, though no messages about the bars closing this week have been posted on the parliamentary intranet. Why should the bars close? Pubs are just about the only thing staying open next Monday, and it’s not like the Queen was opposed to a tipple…
Perhaps given a recent spate of Standards Committee reports into sleaze and poor behaviour by MPs, the most controversial aspect is that the parliamentary authorities chose to put the under-18s choirboys’ changing room in the male loos directly opposite Strangers’ bar.
Which risks putting temptation right in front of drunken MPs…
Now that Labour MP Neil Coyle has been suspended from Parliament’s bars for drunkenly screaming “f*ck you, lose some weight” to Craig Williams in front of a packed crowd in Strangers’, talks of reining in the bar’s infamous drinking culture has soon picked up steam in some quarters. Luckily, the rumours of Strangers’ death are greatly exaggerated…
Speaking to Naga Munchetty on BBC Radio 5 Live, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle defended Parliament’s favourite watering hole despite its “bad reputation”, and insisted it should stay open evermore:
“People work very long hours and the fact is that to have a social drink is never a problem. We are a big village and within a village there is usually an outlet. Strangers’ Bar has had a bad reputation. I want it to have a better reputation […] the right standards, the right protection and that it is there for social drinking, not heavy drinking.”
Guido raises his glass…
Excited MPs get in touch to tell Guido that alcohol is finally being served again on the parliamentary estate – albeit with a snag. Stranger’s Bar is now not going to open until September due to difficulties with providing table service. A source close to the decision making on the matter said there just wasn’t the will to get it open before the Summer recess, which starts in a fortnight.
Thankfully from today, MPs will be able to relieve their thirst with taxpayer-subsidised booze from a number of parliamentary venues, including the Pugin Room, Strangers Dining Room, Adjournment and the smoking room. All is not lost…
Soon after Boris announced that pubs would be able to open yesterday, MPs turned to thinking what this could mean for Parliament’s watering holes – not least Stranger’s Bar. A source close to the speaker tells Guido that the bar was initially closed by Lindsay Hoyle pre-lockdown in order for Parliament to not look out of touch with the rest of the country. Now restrictions are being lifted multiple MPs are in contact with the speaker’s office to get it back up and running from Monday 6th July…
MPs concern for Stranger’s to re-open is not unfounded. One MP listed to Guido the number of pubs and bars in Parliament that had been closed down or stripped of their character in recent years, expressing worry that Stranger’s could be next, under the guise of Covid. Another told Guido it would be easy to open the bar al fresco onto the terrace. Guido hears that idea might be a goer…
UPDATE: Guido can now confirm Stranger’s will be reopening on 6 July.
