A bitter row has erupted in Westminster after the Greens' newest MP, Hannah Spencer, complained she could 'smell alcohol' on colleagues as they vote. Spencer, who embarrassed Labour in the Gorton & Denton by-election in February, used an interview to criticise the 'unprofessional' culture in Parliament.
However, she faced an angry backlash from fellow politicians, who accused her of 'clickbait' tactics and argued there was nothing wrong with sharing a drink amid a long day of work. Nigel Farage said: 'The Greens are happy to legalise heroin and crack, but now we learn they think an afternoon pint is a step too far. Make it make sense.' Labour backbencher Luke Charters swiped: 'Breaking news: MPs are human and sometimes have a drink.'
Controversy Over Subsidised Bars
The exclusive bars on the Westminster estate, and the taxpayer's support for them, have long been a controversial issue. A pint of Carlsberg is currently £5.45 in Strangers' Bar, the main venue and scene of notorious incidents including fights over the years. That compares to around £7 for a pint of lager in nearby pubs. Alcohol-free beers have been added to the menus in Parliament and are cheaper than boozy options.
Some £305,000 was spent in Strangers' in 2023-24, the most recent year that figures are available. But it made a £56,000 loss, despite having no overheads for renting the premises. The overall catering operation in the Commons was propped up with £7.4 million from the public purse in 2024-25. The House has pointed to irregular hours and the relatively small group of clientele as factors in the costs.
Spencer's Concerns
Ms Spencer has talked up her status as the first female plumber to become an MP and again stressed her outsider credentials in an interview with Politics Joe. She said: 'I'm really uneasy about - and I noticed this the other day - when you can smell the alcohol when people are in between votes... as everyone's going in to vote, some people have been drinking.'
'There's a room where I walked past and I doubled back and looked in because people are just sat having a drink. But again that's a job. I can't imagine if a cleaner did that or someone working in a bank - like, had a few drinks and then went back to work smelling of alcohol - that wouldn't happen.' She added: 'I think there's been so many cases recently of like questionable and dangerous behaviour allegedly from MPs, but staff because this culture of a really unprofessional and worrying setting where people can just drink alcohol... while they are in work.'
'That is what I find very out of touch about that place... the vast majority of us that have come from like backgrounds of normal jobs - that's not how the world works, so why does it work in somewhere where arguably the most important decisions get made?'
Backlash from Fellow MPs
Ms Spencer was backed by party leader Zack Polanski this morning. He told Sky News: 'I know lots of people who work 15 hour days - cleaners, teachers... People who are doing work in the real economy. The idea they would have a drink and then go back to work, they would be fired for that and so they should.'
'The idea we have this toxic drinking culture in Westminster where people can go for a drink and then make decisions on 69 million people's lives - crucial decisions... and not be doing that sober. I think to many people that seems strange.' He added: 'I think to lots of the public it will seem very strange that MPs are allowed to get drunk and then vote. That is outrageous.'
But Mr Charters said: 'MPs work long days for constituents, and yes, sometimes share a drink in the evening with colleagues. Last week I was scandalously spotted with... an alcohol-free pint or two between votes. But sure, let's talk about that instead of the Greens' wacky policies.'
Tory MP Ben Obese-Jecty posted on X: 'Hannah Spencer hasn’t spoken in Parliament once since her maiden speech six weeks ago. A woman who claimed she’d already done more than some MPs will do in a year. She has no idea what “Westminster is really like”, she’s a NPC. Meanwhile the Green Party want to legalise drugs.'
Green Party Drug Policy
In February the Mail revealed that internal Green policy stated that heroin and crack cocaine should be legalised because 'adults should be free to make informed decisions about their own drug consumption'. A policy paper added: 'The Green Party recognises that in the majority of cases the limited use of drugs for recreational purposes is not harmful and has the potential to enhance human relationships and human creativity.'
More recently the Greens have suggested they would make cannabis available for adults to buy over the counter from licenced retailers, while substances such as heroin could be available on prescription.
Parliamentary Commissioner's View
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has previously raised questions about the sale of alcohol on the parliamentary estate. In an interview in 2023, Daniel Greenberg acknowledged there had been 'behaviour problems' linked to drinking, but said it was an issue that MPs were 'looking at for themselves'.
'That's clearly a matter for the House to decide for itself,' Mr Greenberg said. 'What I will say is it is one of the things that clearly many MPs are thinking about for themselves. I think the behaviour, I think the attitude to alcohol in the workplace has changed throughout all workplaces. It is something that MPs are looking at for themselves. Some different people have different views.'
'Have there been problems, behaviour problems that have been linked to alcohol? Of course there have. And therefore it is something that again requires to be kept under review. Individual MPs will obviously will decide what works for them.'
