MP's want £25 a day for food?

starfighter · 29 Jul 2009 at 05:40

MPs deserve some level of luxury, While I don't like em they are generally well educated and get paid more than average so it makes sense they should have a similar level of food to match their wage/position.

They shouldn't be expected to make do with £3 for a sausage roll and a can of coke perhaps but nor should they get £25.

I haven't been to London much, I know it is expensive but not that expensive.

All these allowances make it complicated, it should be more of a flat fee imo. Also if you are getting a 2nd house allowance suerly that then negates most of the other "costs" of living away such as a food allowance.

Sure people in high up positions in the private sector get this kind of stuff but it is mainly about tax avoidance than anything. ie to pay you more without paying tax. The Government obviously has no need for this and say it is required...

What they do have a need for is to paythemselves more without us knowing. Anyway they will be out soon.

Richdog · 29 Jul 2009 at 05:48

starfighter said:
MPs deserve some level of luxury, While I don't like em they are generally well educated and get paid more than average so it makes sense they should have a similar level of food.

Finally, some semblance of logic. :eek:

You can't expect an MP to get a sandwich and drink from Boots every day, and whoever says otherwise does not live on the same planet as everyone else.

ShaolinDreams · 29 Jul 2009 at 06:10

how obnoxious

Yrkoon · 29 Jul 2009 at 07:06

Richdog said:
Finally, some semblance of logic.

You can't expect an MP to get a sandwich and drink from Boots every day, and whoever says otherwise does not live on the same planet as everyone else.

why not?

Azagoth · 29 Jul 2009 at 07:35

Richdog said:
You can't expect an MP to get a sandwich and drink from Boots every day, and whoever says otherwise does not live on the same planet as everyone else.

Maybe not, but a pat of butter, a big lump of cheese and a decent loaf of Hovis doesn't cost £25 per month, let alone per day.

By the way, yes I did get the sarcastic tone of your post! Unlike the poster above.

semi-pro waster · 29 Jul 2009 at 07:45

starfighter said:
MPs deserve some level of luxury, While I don't like em they are generally well educated and get paid more than average so it makes sense they should have a similar level of food to match their wage/position.

They shouldn't be expected to make do with £3 for a sausage roll and a can of coke perhaps but nor should they get £25.

I haven't been to London much, I know it is expensive but not that expensive.

It depends what sort of subsistence you are talking about but it isn't hard for me to spend getting on for £10 just on a lunch and that is for a sandwich, soup, drink and a snack - that is at the upper end of the scale for such a lunch though. However if you were to go to a bistro or restaurant then in many it wouldn't be hard to reach £25 just for a meal - the subsistence payment is to cover the whole day as I understand it so perhaps not as unreasonable as it may first appear.

starfighter said:
All these allowances make it complicated, it should be more of a flat fee imo. Also if you are getting a 2nd house allowance suerly that then negates most of the other "costs" of living away such as a food allowance.

Sure people in high up positions in the private sector get this kind of stuff but it is mainly about tax avoidance than anything. ie to pay you more without paying tax. The Government obviously has no need for this and say it is required...

What they do have a need for is to paythemselves more without us knowing. Anyway they will be out soon.

I'd agree with you that a flat salary as a basic would seem much more transparant with perhaps only legitimate receipted expenses (over £500 say and only when necessarily incurred in the course of parliamentary duties) being allowed - the remaining problem is where to set the salary band(s). Any other costs are expected to be paid for from the salary.

Firestar_3x · 29 Jul 2009 at 08:27

Azagoth said:
What a ****ing arrogant attitude you have! I eat away from "Mummy and Daddy" everyday, and I don't spend anywhere near £25 a day on food.

Let me guess student?

Its no shocker that the people who aint got a god enough job or live in 50p supernoodles everyday don't agree with this, life tip: very few people carry on after students living on £1.50 a day, its called growing up and eating proper food.

Petromir · 29 Jul 2009 at 10:40

arknor said:
an extreme example imo

you could get a coffee from elsewhere , pasty from greggs etc , boots do a meal deal sandwhich thing for a lot less than £7.50 i think MS do the same for a lot cheaper to.

why do MPs have to stick to the expensive places?

because in the cheap places they'd have the **** kicked out of then? And would require them to walk a lot further from westminster to get anything meaning they spend less time doing their jobs.

Azagoth · 29 Jul 2009 at 17:32

Firestar_3x said:
Let me guess student?

Er, not exactly. I'm considerably older than you and graduated Uni. when you were still deciding which High School to attend. I work for a living which allows me to pay the bills and feed myself, and I don't come anywhere near spending £25 per day on food.

Orcish-Horde · 29 Jul 2009 at 17:44

starfighter said:
They shouldn't be expected to make do with £3 for a sausage roll and a can of coke perhaps but nor should they get £25.

Many a soldier in Afganistan would give their eye teeth for a sausage roll and a can of coke. What a contrast in expections, does Westminster have a cantine/dinnerhall?

Glaucus · 29 Jul 2009 at 17:48

Orcish-Horde said:
Many a soldier in Afganistan would give their eye teeth for a sausage roll and a can of coke. What a contrast in expections, does Westminster have a cantine/dinnerhall?

aren't soldiers liited to what they can carry.

£25 is pretty much a company standard across the entire board. Or around the £25 mark.

Nitefly · 29 Jul 2009 at 17:52

I have been working on some financial administration for a large company recently and an employees food allowance for an evening meal when working away from home is... £25.