{"id":553079,"date":"2026-04-27T10:15:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T10:15:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/553079\/"},"modified":"2026-04-27T10:15:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T10:15:07","slug":"labour-mps-attack-hannah-spencer-for-calling-out-westminster-drinking-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/553079\/","title":{"rendered":"Labour MPs attack Hannah Spencer for calling out Westminster drinking culture"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n Speaking to PoliticsJOE, Hannah Spencer, who won the recent Gorton and Denton by-election,<\/a> said that “you can smell the alcohol when people are in between votes”, adding that she is “really uneasy” about the on-the-job drinking habits of Westminster<\/a> officials.\n<\/p>\n

\n READ MORE: ‘It’s clearly wrong’: King Charles blasted over US visit and Donald Trump meeting<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\n She added that there have been recent cases of “questionable and dangerous behaviour” from Parliament staff and potentially some MPs because of the “unprofessional” culture of drinking.\n<\/p>\n

\n “I can’t imagine if a cleaner did that, or someone working in a bank, had a few drinks and went back to work smelling of alcohol, that just wouldn’t happen,” she added.\n<\/p>\n

\n There are several subsidised bars in the Westminster estate, with different venues serving a range of MPs, palace staff, media personnel and public visitors.\n<\/p>\n

\n “You can smell the alcohol when people are in between votes.”<\/p>\n

Green MP Hannah Spencer tells us what Westminster is REALLY like.<\/p>\n

The full interview is live on YouTube, and as a podcast here: https:\/\/t.co\/s4mKAc0xku<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/RcikszDxwQ<\/a>\n <\/p>\n

\n \u2014 PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE_UK) April 26, 2026<\/a>\n <\/p>\n

\n Her comments have seen a flurry of criticism from MPs defending the Westminster culture. Natalie Fleet, Labour MP for Bolsover said that while “working in a palace is mad”, the smell of “fags & beer” is one of the things “that make it seem [a] tiny bit normal”.\n<\/p>\n

\n Luke Charters, Labour’s MP for York Outer responded similarly, saying on X\/Twitter: “Breaking news: MPs are human and sometimes have a drink.\n<\/p>\n

\n “Classic clickbait farming\n<\/p>\n

\n “MPs work long days for constituents, and yes, sometimes share a drink in the evening with colleagues.\n<\/p>\n

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\n “Last week I was scandalously spotted with\u2026 an alcohol-free pint or two between votes\n<\/p>\n

\n “But sure, let\u2019s talk about that instead of the Greens\u2019 wacky policies.\n<\/p>\n

\n “Trying to distract us, maybe? ”\n<\/p>\n

\n Reform UK leader Nigel Farage<\/a> also hit out at her comments, saying: “The Greens are happy to legalise heroin and crack, but now we learn they think an afternoon pint is a step too far”.\n<\/p>\n

\n And of course Farage misrepresents what Hannah is saying.<\/p>\n

“An afternoon pint” is different to drinking on a work day and then going to vote on decisions for millions of people.<\/p>\n

I’d explain this to him but he’s been running away from a debate with me for months and months! https:\/\/t.co\/2hQyixRz1a<\/a>\n <\/p>\n

\n \u2014 Zack Polanski (@ZackPolanski) April 26, 2026<\/a>\n <\/p>\n

\n Greens leader Zack Polanski responded to Farage, backing Spencer’s argument: “of course Farage misrepresents what Hannah is saying.\n<\/p>\n

\n “An afternoon pint” is different to drinking on a work day and then going to vote on decisions for millions of people.\n<\/p>\n

\n “I’d explain this to him but he’s been running away from a debate with me for months and months,” he added.\n<\/p>\n

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\n Despite the criticism, Spencer’s complaints were backed by several commentators<\/a> as well as Northern Irish MP Sorcha Eastwood<\/a>, who said: “Can’t get my head around this, I worked in Tesco, Manufacturing, the Health<\/a> Service & Construction- guess what? We all worked long hours, mostly on low pay and we had considerable levels of pressure.\n<\/p>\n

\n “MPs drinking during work in Parliament? The place we make laws for all the other workers? And it’s ok for us to drink during work?\n<\/p>\n

\n “Don’t think so. This completely out of touch attitude sums up perfectly why this entitled govt are so unpopular. If an NHS worker drank on shift they’d be sacked. It’s clear so many of them have never worked an ordinary job in their lives.”\n<\/p>\n