Former plumber and gas engineer, Hannah Spencer, was elected as the new Green Party MP for Gorton and Denton in February this year. Since taking up her role in parliament, she has advocated for more “people who do jobs like mine” to follow in her footsteps. This, she says, would provide better representation to “normal people” rather than from career politicians and “posh boys”.
Spencer has been vocal about how her background contrasts with the lifestyles of her colleagues and has highlighted an “out of touch” and “unprofessional” culture within Westminster.
Westminster drinking culture
The latest topic of parliamentary cultural behaviour to come under Spencer’s scrutiny has been the freedom of MPs to access alcohol – and cheaply at that – while working. She criticised the “normalised” consumption of alcohol in Westminster, stating that she could “smell the alcohol” on MPs in between votes. Spencer also argued that a cleaner or bank worker would be sacked if returning to work smelling of booze, but said MPs, who are in charge of making vital national decisions, treat it as a “pantomime”.
Her comments have provoked considerable comment, from both sides of the argument. Yet, it’s hardly the first time similar issues have been raised.
Those in favour
Arguments for maintaining the status quo have come mainly from MPs themselves, but not exclusively. A number of Labour MPs have defended the current culture due to the frequent long hours that MPs are required to work.
Neil Coyle, Labour MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, said he hadn’t had a drink for 4 years (following his own unfortunate comeuppance), but didn’t believe an alcohol ban was necessary. Labour MP for Bolsover, Natalie Fleet, said that the smell of “fags and beer” was one of the things that made work in Westminster a “tiny bit normal”. (A voluntarily-adopted smoking ban applies in Westminster, except for specific areas).
Reform UK Limited leader, Nigel Farage – so often photographed with a pint in his hand – has also jumped on the bandwagon. Farage mocked Spencer’s stance, suggesting that, with the Greens’ progressive attitude towards legalising drugs, she would have no problems with MPs smelling of marijuana, as long as they didn’t smell of alcohol – an argument the Greens have been quick to dismiss.
The News Agents journalist, Jon Sopel said that “back in the day” it would have been “amazing to meet an MP who didn’t smell of alcohol”. So, if it was ok then, what’s the problem now? He added that “no one votes the wrong way because they’ve had a pint”. Maybe so, but is anyone seriously suggesting that MPs are saying ‘no’ to a second or a third one?
Those against
A common thread from those that feel drinking on the job is inappropriate and unprofessional, is what happens outside of Westminster. The argument in favour of the current drinking culture has focused mainly on MPs’ long and late hours, but so many other professions can make that same claim: doctors, nurses, bus drivers, police, the fire service, lorry drivers, air traffic controllers. To name but a few. Regardless of the fact that getting drunk, or even a little tipsy, at work would be a disciplinary matter, likely resulting in being fired, what member of the public would want the services of a less-than-sober surgeon or taxi driver?
Green Party leader Zack Polanski defended a drinking ban saying, “the idea that MPs can go for a drink and then make decisions on 69 million people’s lives – and not be doing that sober – will seem very strange to the public”.
Alliance party MP, Sorcha Eastwood, said she had worked in Tesco, manufacturing, the health service and construction, all of which had long hours, mostly low pay and lots of pressure. She questioned whether, in the place where MPs make laws for all other workers, is it really “OK for us to drink during work?”
Parliament’s own watchdog, the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme, has said the drinking culture in Westminster has been a “frequent factor” fuelling inappropriate behaviour, and that alcohol consumption is “leading to intimidating behaviour like shouting and swearing”.
One rule for them, one rule for the rest of us
Regardless of the arguments from both sides of the political spectrum, perhaps what’s more important is what the public think. In a recent YouGov poll, the public came down strongly in favour of MPs having to abide by the same rules as the rest of the working population, with 76% thinking drinking on duty was somewhat/completely unacceptable and only 15% believing it was somewhat/completely acceptable.
But drinking while on duty at Westminster is only one of a number of issues whereby MPs seem to get a much more preferential deal than the average worker.
While the House of Westminster bars are most likely the cheapest place to buy alcohol in the whole of central London, MPs and peers also have the luxury of subsidised (by us, the taxpayers) workplace restaurants, as well as generous expenses, including pricey accommodation in London (although, is there any other kind?). Not to mention annual pay rises – awarded by themselves, to themselves – above the level of inflation: something so often denied to many other groups of workers.
If those benefits weren’t enough to prove our representatives have a better employment deal than your average worker, then perhaps we should also remember that they only attend Westminster 4 days a week, and between 170 and 250 days a year.
Perhaps, then, if MPs spent a little less time improving their own lot and a little more time improving ours, we might feel a little more tolerant of ‘the odd pint’ while on duty. Bottoms up!
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