Politicians and their staff are taking advantage of taxpayer subsidises which have protected them from inflation, allowing the greedy lot to scoff up cheap fry ups
Hungry MPs and their staff are scoffing “Full English” fry ups at bargain basement prices as they take advantage of taxpayer subsidises which have protected them from inflation.
Last year the politicians, employees and workers at the House of Commons shelled out almost £400,000 filling their breakfast plates with bacon, egg, sausage and all the other essentials in a traditional fry up.
Despite inflation squeezing household budgets the politicos can still feast on a full English for less than £4 in the House of Commons – in part due to the £7.8million subsidy received by its cafes, bars and restaurants.
While the inflation rate hit 11% in 2022 the cost of MPs’ hot breakfasts has been shielded from the worst of increases.
It means a brekkie on the House of Commons Terrace can come in under £4 comprising sausage (70p), bacon (70p), beans (55p) fried egg (55p), hash browns (15p), mushrooms (70p), grilled tomatoes (20p) and toast (35p).
The total cost is £3.90 and has only increased 30p in the last two years, which is below the general rise in inflation which has hit the nation’s shopping baskets.
In hotels around Westminster a breakfast banquet enjoyed by MPs and their staff could set them back ten times as much.
Extra hungry breakfast diners can also add a portion of black pudding (60p), a veggie sausage (60p) and fried bread (35p).
Those wanting a takeaway option to eat at their desks can get a sausage sandwich (£2.10) or a bacon sandwich (£2.80).
Figures for last year show the House of Commons sold 60,000 breakfast sausages and 70,000 hash browns, as well as 60 portions of fried bread and more than 400 servings of kippers.
Those more health-conscious residents in Parliament consumed 3,064 portions of the House of Commons’ homemade muesli, while just 39 people opted for Rice Crispies cereal in the last year.
Benjamin Elks, grassroots development manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “Hard-pressed households are paying through the nose for their food while MPs and their staff tuck into bargain fry-ups courtesy of taxpayers.
“With millions spent subsidising Parliament’s bars and restaurants, it’s no wonder trust in politicians is at rock bottom.
“It’s high time these out-of-touch perks were scrapped, and MPs and their staff started paying the going rate like everyone else.”
A House of Commons spokesperson said: “Our catering venues serve over a million customers every year – including visitors, MPs, Peers and journalists – as well as the thousands of staff who keep Parliament running 24 hours a day. All items are sold above cost price and we continuously seek to reduce costs.
“Parliament is a unique working environment and our high volume of customers and irregular working hours – spread across a number of different outlets and buildings – means that additional costs are unavoidable.
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