Are you someone who consumes alcohol while working late? Or do you, like the majority of individuals, prefer to wait until you have finished your work responsibilities before enjoying a drink in your own time? Newly elected Green Party MP Hannah Spencer has raised a contentious issue that would typically be considered unacceptable by most rational individuals: drinking while on duty.
During an online interview with Politics Joe last week, Hannah, who represents the Gorton and Denton constituency, discussed the well-known drinking culture at Westminster. Expressing her unease about the prevalent alcohol consumption in the Commons, she remarked, “I’m really uneasy about… when you can smell the alcohol. When people are in between votes and everyone’s going in to vote.
“Some individuals have been drinking in between. There’s a room that I walk past where I’ve doubled back and peeked in because people are just sitting there having a drink. I can’t imagine if a cleaner or someone working in a bank did that – had a few drinks and then returned to work smelling of alcohol – that wouldn’t happen.”
This has prompted criticism from both right and left-wing colleagues. Labour MP for Bolsover, Natalie Fleet, who abstains from alcohol, mentioned that the smell of “cigarettes & beer” in the Commons contributes to normalizing such behavior. Luke Charters, Labour’s MP for York Outer, sarcastically commented on X: “Breaking news: MPs are human and sometimes have a drink. Classic clickbait farming.”
Hannah’s concern is not difficult to comprehend. She is not the only one to voice such worries. Sue Gray, former Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, created a stir two years ago when she advocated for shutting down the Commons bars.
A report from Parliament’s behavior watchdog in 2023 highlighted concerns that the drinking culture at Westminster has led to instances of “intimidating behavior” and an unsafe environment. Why do MPs, who are essentially public servants, feel justified in defending their practice of drinking while on duty? It boils down to culture. The outdated, corrupt culture that allows them to preach to us while doing as they please.
Many individuals work late, including bus drivers, taxi drivers, firefighters, doctors, nurses, and teachers. Should they be permitted to consume alcohol during work hours? Absolutely not. If an ordinary person were to show up for work smelling of alcohol, they would likely be dismissed.
Therefore, it is quite audacious for MPs, who often criticize inappropriate behavior from members of the public, to insist on treating the House of Commons like a pub. Despite the foreseeable backlash from right-wing MPs, who are determined to discredit Hannah’s stance, as the local elections approach, do our MPs, whose salaries are funded by taxpayers, truly wish to make a stand on this issue?
If they desire to consume alcohol, why not schedule it for after work hours? Do they want to portray themselves as stumbling into the Commons chamber, possibly under the influence, to vote on matters that impact all our lives?
Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform party, weighed in on Sunday, interpreting Hannah’s concerns as suggesting that “an afternoon pint is a step too far.” Farage’s attempt to downplay and misrepresent Hannah’s concerns is typical of him. Hannah is correct in asserting that our outdated practices require reform, just not the kind of reform he implies.
