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House of Lords members guzzled hundreds of bottles of champagne in 2020, despite not being at work most of year

MEMBERS of the unelected House of Lords guzzled hundreds of bottles of luxury booze in 2020, despite not being in work for most of the year. 

Bars and restaurants serving Parliament’s upper chamber sold a total of 214 bottles of champagne and prosecco this year. 

The figures, revealed under the Freedom of Information Act, show that the Westminster venues sold 61 bottles of their own brand champagne, priced at £50. Prosecco and an even pricier HOL vintage champagne were also popular.

The shutdown of the Lords between March and July meant that, excluding weekends and public holidays, members sat for a maximum of 113 days, with almost two bottles of bubbly glugged on each of their working days.

Earlier this year, whingeing Lords requested a hardship fund to help them during the Covid-19 crisis after their daily allowance – paid merely for turning up for work – was cut to £162.

Politicians opposed to the House of Lords reiterated calls for the upper house to be abolished. 

SNP MSP Rona Mackay said: “Voters will be absolutely fizzing that while thousands of people across Scotland are struggling to just make ends meet, due to the financial impact of this pandemic, these unelected cronies have been guzzling hundreds of bottles of luxury booze.

“The fact that these Lords, who nobody voted for, have been living the life of Riley at the taxpayers’ expense, while at the same time pleading poverty and begging for a hardship fund, will make voters sick.

“The Westminster system isn’t fit for purpose – it’s time to pull the brakes on this gravy train and abolish the Lords for good.”

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