Income attitudes

What sort of democracy confers elite status on its elected parliamentarians? We provide these “servants of the people” with ample salaries bolstered by allowances, but it must have been they themselves who at some time arranged for the added perk of workplace bars, which to my knowledge exist nowhere else.

I can accept – reluctantly – their superior form of works canteen in the form of posh restaurants, but I see no reason for any bars. Even less do I ­appreciate their raiding taxpayers’ money to subsidise these ­facilities. In the year 2013-2014, the House of Commons received a staggering £4.5 million in subsidy to cover losses.

Worse still, the needless House of Lords, whose residents (recently augmented by another 20 placemen and women) get a daily allowance of £300, billed us for £2.44m to enable them to maintain an appropriate standard of catering.

It is simple human nature to settle into a lifestyle commensurate with position and income, and that affects attitudes to other aspects of life, which may go some way towards explaining why certain other members of our inclusive society currently rely on public donations to foodbanks.

Robert Dow

Ormiston Road

Tranent, East Lothian