Unelected peers guzzle £110,000 worth of Champagne in the House of Lords in 2025
“These findings will have the public wondering where their lordships find the time to get any work done at all.”
Almost £110,000 worth of Champagne and fizz was drunk in the House of Lords this year.
Peers knocked back 3,044 bottles of Champagne and 5,484 bottles of prosecco in the House of Lords’ bars over the past 12 months.
The £110,000 bar tab is around £27,000 more than what was drunk in the Lords’ bars in 2024.
The figures were obtained by a freedom of information request by the SNP, who said the bar bill showed how “out of touch” the House of Lords is with ordinary people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
Pete Wishart MP, the SNP’s deputy Westminster leader, said: “As if it isn’t insulting enough to voters that unelected Lords can claim £371 per day just for showing up to work, these findings will have the public wondering where their lordships find the time to get any work done at all.
“Their champagne lifestyle suggests there’s certainly no cost-of-living crisis on the red benches.
“While households in the real world continue to struggle with soaring food prices, sky-high energy bills and out-of-control inflation, this news that the Lords are living it up all year round will be just another kick in the teeth.”
The SNP has consistently called for the House of Lords to be abolished and in the past has refused to nominate nationalist peers on principle.
Labour committed to reforming the House of Lords in its election manifesto, including abolishing hereditary peers and introducing a mandatory retirement age of 80. This has yet to be formally introduced in Westminster.
Earlier this month,Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer appointed 25 new Labour peers in an attempt to strengthen his party’s position in the House of Lords. This brings the total number of peers appointed by Sir Keir to 62.
Mr Wishart added: “Keir Starmer promised to reform this archaic, out-of-touch and anti-democratic institution, but like so many of Labour’s other broken promises, those words lost their fizz as soon as he entered Downing Street.
“The Westminster system is broken and it’s long past time to call last orders for the House of Lords and abolish it for good.”
The House of Lords said all alcohol served in its bars is sold at a profit and its catering venues are open to all staff in Westminster, not just peers.
A spokesperson said: “All alcohol, including Champagne and prosecco, sold in the House of Lords is sold above cost price and at a profit.
“Many of the cafeterias, restaurants, bars and banqueting venues in the House of Lords where alcohol is on sale, are also open to other members of the parliamentary community such as MPs, staff and journalists based in parliament, as well as guests and visitors.
“Champagne is also sold in the gift shop.”
The spokesperson added: “Champagne served at events held in the House of Lords is not paid for by the taxpayer.
“It is sold by the House of Lords catering team to the organisations or individuals hosting the event in the House of Lords.
“Again, all alcohol at these events is sold at a profit.”
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