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This story from The Sun looks remarkably similar to this story of mine (reproduced below). The Sun tells us that "The accounts were uncovered by the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers".
In actual fact they were uncovered by me back in April under the Freedom of Information Act, and emailed to alcohol trade bodies to try and get their support for the Alistair Darling Barred Campaign.
A proper use of taxpayer's money?
Those of you still bristling at Alistair Darling's alcohol tax hike might be interested to learn how little MPs can buy their beer for in the taxpayer subsidised bars in the Houses of Parliament.
For comparison I add alongside the prices from a couple of random London pubs whose drinks prices I have been able to find on the internet (The Roebuck and The Dispensary).
BEER BAR HoC Roebuck Dispensary Foster's £2.10 £2.90 £2.90 Kronenbourg 1664 £2.40 £3.15 £3.00 Guinness £2.20 £3.10 £3.00 John Smith's £2.10 £2.80 - San Miguel £2.40 £3.15 £3.00 Unfortunately there are no figures for the individual subsidy on alcoholic drinks in the House of Commons bars. The subsidies are included in the overall catering budget which, according to the HoC Annual Report (p77), we - the taxpayer - subsidise to the tune of £5M a year.
That's WE the taxpayer subsidising the alcohol and food of the 646 MPs at Westminster who can get pissed and grow fat for cheap, in spite of the binge-drinking and obesity epidemic. Well, they do only get a basic wage of £60,000 a year, living expenses and free taxis to take them home when they are too pissed to drive.
Take a look at The Stranger's Bar price list (pdf).
The Press Bar (pdf) is also subisdised to the same degree, which is why you don't read about this outrage in the newspapers.
It's not just beer and bar snacks either, it's fine wines and champagne (pdf). That's a bit of fucking alright, eh?
The House of Commons doesn't do off-sales but if you are an MP and you want a 'souvenir' of your workplace you can buy alcohol from the souvenirs and gifts service, less 18.5% of the advertised retail price (but only if you are a member).
Greedy money grubbing bastards.
In light of the tax on our beer going up and up (for the good of our health) who will join with me to call for the end of subsidised alcohol and food in the Houses of Parliament? Just think of the MPs; think of their waistlines, their livers, our wallets.
I even emailed the link to yourviews@the-sun.co.uk
Back in 2005 I broke the story of Terry White, a Labour Communications Officer sacked by New Labour for anti-English comments, on the CEP Blog. The Sun contacted me for the story, promised to mention the CEP, and then didn't.
Hat-tip to Iain Dale for bringing the Sun article to my attention.