MPs up to their snouts in swill, shock

MPs are really getting their snouts well and truly stuck into the trough.

This from the Telegraph.

The maximum rise in the price of any item sold in the Parliamentary catering establishments will be capped at five per cent this year - despite food and drink prices rising by more than 18 per cent in supermarkets.

The deal, agreed by senior MPs at a meeting last month, means the taxpayer will have to provide a £5 million subsidy for food and drink sold within the Palace of Westminster.

The controversial price-capping scheme has been introduced despite growing public anger over the generosity of MPs expenses. The Parliamentary Committee which agreed the scheme is headed by Sir Stuart Bell, a backbench MP who has led the protests against the leaking of information about MPs' expense claims.

Susie Squire of the Taxpayers' Alliance condemned the decision. ‘It's unbelievable that after the handsome salary and perks MPs receive that they are trying to squeeze even more money out of taxpayers,’ she said.

‘The rest of the country is having to pay more to put their own food on the table. Yet again, this shows that too many MPs are out of touch and unconcerned as to the realities facing their constituents. This is damaging both the democratic process and the British public's faith in Parliament.’

MPs already benefit from heavily-subsidised food and drink prices. For example, a cup of tea costs 30p, a breakfast about £2.10 and a pint of lager is about £1 cheaper than in nearby pubs. They are also able to claim for groceries bought when they leave the Commons.