Britannist

Labour europhile Alan Milburn MP – a keen supporter of both Blair and the euro - was photographed by the Mail on Sunday newspaper on the Commons Thames-side terrace waving a brace of champagne bottles. Milburn – a former Cabinet Minister who has advised Blair and is one of the key supporters of the discredited and crumbling Blair ‘project’ - was pictured in the Mail on Sunday (edition of 31.7.2006) at the Commons “in the dying hours of the parliamentary year” just before the start of a SEVENTY DAY holiday for MP’s (although MPs angrily deny the break is a holiday).

The newspaper pointed out “He (Milburn) appeared excited as he was greeted by four young ladies and their bespectacled friend and clowned around, much to their amusement. Mr. Milburn's political fortunes have waned with those of ‘Tony’ Blair - but well-paid after-dinner speeches have seemingly enabled him to enjoy the occasional flute of bubbly. Further along the Commons terrace - arguably the most exclusive al fresco bar in London - the Tories' higher education spokesman Boris Johnson, former editor of The Spectator magazine, enjoyed the company of a copper-haired woman in her early 20s. She was Fiona Macdonald, his Press officer, and she drew admiring glances from MPs of all parties.
Near Mr. Johnson could be spotted Mark Field, Conservative MP for Westminster, with two brimming pint glasses. Looking relaxed, with his sleeves rolled up, Mr. Field displayed no signs of the stress that followed the recent revelation of his affair with one of Tory (Conservative) leader David Cameron's "A-list" (priority list of) parliamentary candidates. The drinkers were joined by Liberal Democrat Mark Oaten - fresh from the announcement that he was quitting Parliament. His political reputation is in tatters following revelations of three-in-a-bed sex with rent boys.”

The Mail on Sunday said that House of Commons own-label non-vintage champagne from Heidsieck and Co. was £21 – compared to £45 for the ‘house fizz’ (Champagne Devaux Cuvee) at the Cinnamon club in Great Smith Street.

“Following their liquid refreshment, some of those on the terrace retired to one of the half-dozen parliamentary restaurants” the Mail on Sunday observed, adding “Parliament's Adjournment restaurant last week offered potted duck with prune chutney and toasted country bread for just £4.65, or fillet of trout on purple sprouting broccoli with puttanesca dressing at £7. At the Quirinale - just five minutes' walk from the Commons - diners pay £10.50 for starters such as sauteed king prawns with rosemary and chilli-scented cannellini bean puree.”

Between April and November 2005, House of Commons staff, journalists and MP’s consumed 73, 671 pints in the bars and at various functions (in the Commons). The bars and restaurants run at a loss and are subsidised by £5 million a year (a figure which would be higher if they had to pay commercial rents).

On the Daily Mail message board (website) Don of Brandon wrote on 31.7.2006 “Unfortunately for us mere mortals, MPs think they are gods gift to the people instead of overpaid, under-worked and 'everything on the taxes' - but their expenses etc. are tax free. I am sure we could get by with about a quarter of these, mostly obnoxious, people to rubber stamp EU policy!”

Margaret in Suffolk wrote on the Daily Mail message board on 31.7.2006 “All meals in the government "cafes" should be on a par with school meals. Only soft drinks served and No Smoking allowed. That should make sure they stay awake and listen to the arguments before they vote for some of the trash passed this past session.”