'Out of touch' MPs complain about food price hikes in Parliament restaurants

01 April 2023 , 17:56

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Some MPs have complained about an increase in food prices in Parliament (Stock photo) (Image: Getty Images)

Shameless MPs have complained about price hikes when they Order, Order in Parliamentary restaurants.

Ministers moaned to Commons officials after being asked to pay more for food, despite dishes being subsidised by taxpayers – and still at bargain prices when compared with high street rates.

For example, a bowl of soup has risen from 94p to £1.05 and lamb-topped jacket potatoes from £2.79 to £3.30. In comparison, a typical soup at Pret a Manger costs £3.50 and a cheese jacket in a Tesco cafe is £4.95.

The meal moans emerged in a list of parliament com-plaints but officials spared the whingers – on basic salaries of £84,000 – embarrassment by not including their names.

Maddy Alexander-Grout said some MPs are 'out of touch' (madaboutmoneyofficial / CATERS NEWS)

Tonight, Maddy Alexander-Grout, consumer money specialist at Mad About Money, said: “It shows how out of touch some MPs are. People are using food banks while they are whingeing about how expensive their canteen is.”

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Polly Arrowsmith, an expert on saving money, said she was “gobsmacked MPs have the cheek to complain”.

She added: “They get heavily subsidised alcohol as well – £3 for a glass of wine or £3.50 a pint, which is less than happy hour prices in London. Get a grip.”

The bill for running bars and canteens hit a record £7.5million in 2022 – against sales of £3.4m. Food prices will be reviewed again in July, having gone up this month by an average of 5%, due in part to rising costs.

A Commons spokesman said: “Our venues serve thousands every week, including visitors, MPs and journalists, as well as the staff who keep Parliament running.”

John Siddle