The title may be amusing but the behaviour of the recently elected Conservative MP for Rochester and Strood, Mark Reckless, certainly is not.
Due to a bout of insomnia, I listened to TalkSport during the night and the subject of Mr Reckless's antics was part of the night's listening. Mr Reckless, a former and trained barrister, decided to partake in the heavily subsidised alcoholic beverage available in a number of bars within the Commons during the Finance Bill a couple of Tuesday nights ago. He admits he was too drunk to vote. I have to admit he was very fortunate not to suffer the same fate as George Foulkes but of course Mr Foulkes was not protected by the Westminster club and the Westminster pavements didn't offer him much protected either.
Hazel Blears told Adam Boulton:
"On Tuesday night, it was a hot night, and we all knew we were going to be there until 2am so I went out for a drink on the terrace," she said.
"I was there until about half past 10. Then I thought this is getting a bit lively so I went back in the library and did a bit more correspondence and then I popped out and had a drink somewhere else with my friends."
Each and every one of the callers to TalkSport said any MP caught drinking alcohol when working out to be sacked immediately. I concur. Hazel Blears was as guilty as Mr Reckless and the others who imbibed that night as she admits to 'popping out for a drink somewhere else with her friends'.
How many of us has ever thought about 'popping out' for a drink with friends during our working day or night? Why do these people, who make our laws, think they're above the law? The answer to that is simple because they are 99% of the time.
If the powers that be in Westminster aren't prepared to sack employees who are under the influence of alcohol during working hours, then the bars should stop serving anything other than beverages and soft drinks. The taxpayers shouldn't be supporting the bar bills of anyone, least of all people who earn over three times the national wage. Oh! Let's not forget the taxi bills that night which will have drained the coffers by a few hundred pounds and it's also alleged MPs prolonged the debate in order to claim up to £130 each for staying in hotels. The abuses continue.
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15 comments:
Mnay years ago, I was a regular visitor to a Westminster wine bar much frequented by MPs. Occasionally during the evening a bell would ring behind the bar, prompting a mass exodus of smartly-dressed customers in varying stages of inebriation.
Having staggered over the road to vote, they would then return to their interrupted drinks and resume their conversations. I think that was the point at which I finally lost all confidence in our system of government.
A very great many people have a drink during their working day. A couple of pints at lunch. Some wine with dinner. I know one lady who used to drink a can of guinness in the afternoon every day during work. Getting blind drunk is a different thing, but this demonisation of a !quick drink" during a break is going a bit far.
Well said SR and I concur with everything you write.
Likewise I think Steve T is off-message with his views.
As lobby fodder it hardly matters if MPs are sober or drunk as long as they have enough wits left to obey the whips.
This is of course a sad reflection on the state of politics which stems in part from the MSMs demand for MPs to be professionals rather than amateurs who actually have a real job for a living.
I'd rather MPs spent less time in Westminster and did a lot less legislating.
Plenty of folk who I know who work in offices have a pint at lunchtime - look in any town or city and you can see them. Isn't that what business lunches are all about in the private sector?
Well no surprise there then but as some-one who is not a holy wullie I can recall being hung over at work, drinking at work, drinking in the pub and returning to work and coming home from work and getting hissed on the plane, so that's the beam in my eye. Been there done that..........but NEVER made a backside of myself. The trick is to remember who you are, where you are, who's around you and don't be greedy or make a pest of yourself!
As a colleague once remarked to a bunch of loudmouths.......the trouble is guys you've all been drinking on empty heeds
To defend Ms Blears - it's not illegal to drink.
It may be illegal to drink alcohol, but she may have had water, coffee or other non-alcoholic beverage.
Or - the wv could by a nearly very-apt typo "Blies"
On a few ocassions in the past, I have been a guest of individual MPs for lunch or/and liquid refreshments in the "member's enclosure" by the river embankment.
...and I did notice that there appeared to be some gluttony as far as far liquid refreshment was concerned by certain well known public figures.
.... erm I was in the company of a certain fellow called Charlie ******* more than once.He's quite well known to folk up Ross, Cromarty and Skye way, so ah believe.
I can understand that completely Macheath. Who wouldn't lose faith in folk who behave like that.
Steve, in recent years the vast majority of businesses have insisted no employee should consume alcohol during their working day. One of the more sensible H & S policies.
The military are known for a 'drink' culture. Can you imagine any one of them having a quick pint with his lunch then going out of their base in Afghanistan?
Thanks WFW. As with the drink and driving, I feel zero should be enforced for those working. I'm not being righteous here if I know it's just too easy to have one drink then another when in a relaxed atmosphere without thinking beyond the minute.
Ah Disenfranchised, you'll have plenty support for your opinion.
Before I retired Grogipher, I noticed a big change in the lunchtime drinking culture.
Business lunches became business breakfasts. It's only big business which can afford to have staff sitting in bars for hours perhaps.
Am I sounding too righteous Dram? I can't handle alcohol in the day. One glass of wine has the same effect as a bottle of the stuff.
I thought most folk now realised how daft it is to drink during the working day. In your day they were still learning it seems. ;)
Ah Joe, I thought about that. Ms Blears is usually very accurate with her words. If she'd meant tea or coffee or a soft drink I'm sure she would have emphasised that.
Great wv btw.
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