Much hilarity, gossip and swapping of anecdotes in the Sky News Westminster office about the edict from the Sergeant at Arms, Major General Grant Peterkin, ordering we mere mortals to stand aside for MPs when we're queuing for our fish and chips in the Stranger's Cafeteria.

"With effect from today, staff and other users should be prepared to give way to Members when queuing for retail and catering services, the Post Office, travel office or when using other facilities such as lifts, photocopiers, telephone cubicles, etc," writes the Major.

He's currently working his notice after his contract was not renewed by the Speaker, "Gorbals Mick" Martin - in an email to Commons staff.

In more than a quarter of a century as a Lobby correspondent, the sheer brass neck of MPs taking advantage of their many perks has never ceased to amaze me.

I recall years ago waiting in the taxi queue in New Palace Yard (where there's a sign saying "Members have priority"), with an MP who is now a senior minister and member of the Brown inner circle. (We were off for a late-night curry, as I recall.)

David - then an MP, but now Lord - Howell, the Tory grandee who is George Osborne's father-in-law, said to my chum in that snooty way that toffs do: "Are you a Member?"

To my delight, my chum told him: "Yes. Now piss off!"

I also recall several occasions flying on the London-Edinburgh shuttle and being appalled as senior MPs of both parties (yes, there was a time when the Tories had senior MPs representing Scottish seats) always - without fail - would demand that the cabin crew let them off the plane first.

And MPs, as we all know from studying their expenses, don't even pay their own fare between Westminster and their constituency. We do.

But the favourite story in our office of an MP's arrogance is, not surprisingly, about John Prescott.

My colleague Cheryl Smith recalls waiting with her mother to buy a ruler - yes, just a ruler - in the House of Commons shop next to the Stranger's Cafeteria.

In barged the surly Mr Prescott, he pushed in front of her and then proceeded to spend what seemed like ages buying large quantities of wines, whiskies, chocolates and other goodies while Cheryl and her mum waited patiently.

There are honourable exceptions to the majority of MPs who queue-jump. But not many.

Has an MP ever barged past you in a queue within the precincts of the Palace of Westminster?

Are you an MP who's taken advantage of the rules in this manner?

Post your story on the blog.

Comments

[The Morning Post 15 Oct 2007 15:13:56]

Bruce

Sounds ok to me too apart from the bit about the fair trial LOL

[Bruce Hulmes / England 12 Oct 2007 23:50:26]

In China they just give these scum a fair trial and then shoot them, sounds OK to me.

[The Morning Post 12 Oct 2007 09:54:28]

Mike Spain

Great idea. Lets also start asking for receipts on all expense account purchases by MP's. The Inland Revenue are very good at attacking small business owners for LOST RECEIPTS but somehow manage to overlook the fact thet our MP's dont have to provide any! Is this democracy in action in Browns's Great Britain?

[mike,spain 12 Oct 2007 00:27:01]

Its about time the housing allowance was adjusted to force any profit on the sale to be paid back in full to the taxpayer. Then they have the accomodation (paid for) but the taxpayer gets the profit on the sale not the MP when the leave. That would fix the issue in a single swipe.

[Paddy 11 Oct 2007 11:19:08]

Yes, I was coming out of a lift at Portcullis House, before I could exit Dianne Abbot walked in and pressed a button for the lift to go up again. I was totally speechless!

[Merv. Beszant, Dubai 11 Oct 2007 07:54:13]

Jon,
The examples of appalling behaviour you give don't surprise me one bit, and as I have stated before, once these people become M.P.'s they immediately treat the electorate who put them there with absolute contempt.
In the case of Prescott you are dealing with a man who fits perfectly into the catagory of 'too ignorant to know that you're ignorant, and to think that he was the Deputy P.M.!
It really isn't difficult to understand why people hate politicians more than they hate estate agents!

[carol-ann liverpool 11 Oct 2007 02:33:31]

Now JP is not my favourite person - I had violent stomach spams involving food, when we heard just a little too much information about his extra curricular activities -

But seeing him flashing the cash for all those goods must have been galling for those Members who couldn't bear the sight of a Ship's Steward in the hallowed halls of Westminister!

Pure snobbery about having an uppity Chav in the Chamber, methinks

I can't help but feel that he wouldn't have been MP for Hull and served in government for all those years, if he hadn't been good at something - apart from making shepherds pie and bacon butties.

I have a lot of respect for Michael White of the Guardian, who, in TV interviews, always defends JP and scorns the snobbery and prejudice of those who make fun of him

[Bruce Hulmes / England 10 Oct 2007 17:21:10]

I take it the Liberal and Labour MPs will not demand special treatment in keeping with their social conscience and beliefs that all men (and women) are equal.

[Purps, 10 Oct 2007 16:57:32]

I think I would get done for criminal assault if they ever acted like that in my company.

I will tell you a true story about Brown, and my first initial thoughts about him. As a City banker I was entertaining guests at Wembley in 1996 for the European Championships, a group of about ten bankers and customers in total, we were waiting at Paddington for the Train to Wembley, when all of a sudden this man with a knowing grin> do you recognise me, sort of grin sidled up behind us, he was really desperate to get noticed by us and to enjoy our conversation, we were all seasoned FX traders, and Maggie’s product, so you can imagine our response. I think we started singing Maggie May believe it or not with our own extra words included.

He did eventually move away, but I will never forget him, he was so desperate to be in our company for a moment or two, I wonder just what a pain he would be like now, he probably would have us all shot for not saluting him or would send us to the Rick, hopefully not Northern ha ha.

[Karl, Lancs 10 Oct 2007 16:26:48]

I didn't surprise me at all when recalling one of the worst examples of MP's thinking they're a 'God' that you gave the example of 'Prezza'. 'Hypocrisy' and 'double standards' are the hallmark of modern MP's (particularly champagne socialists like Prescott). Probably the worst example that sticks in my mind was Prezza at the 97 party conference (think it was 97 anyhow) preaching to the converted of how honest, upstanding and 'whiter than white' Labour MP's are, while slating Tory MP's for effectiveness in government!!, MP'S expenses!!!, sleaze!!!! and 'INFIDELITY'!!!!!!!

That finally sealed it for me to what a joke and a buffoon John Prescott really is.

[The Morning Post 10 Oct 2007 16:24:12]

John should have called his old mate Peter Mandleson in Brussels. He could have brought the goodies from the EMP's ONLY duty free shop there, saving him a fortune on Brown taxes and had them flown over to the UK in Blairs favourite mode of transport, the Queens flight! I hear they also do a very nice line in duty free designer croquet clubs Jon!

[Khalid 10 Oct 2007 16:00:15]

No MP has barged past me that I recall, but then again I have been avoiding them like the plague for some reason or the other. Still never had the opportunity to visit the Palace of Westminster, perhaps the strangers in the gallery would invite me for a quick bite or twoHow about now?)or am I "Moving Too Fast-Artful Dodger"?

[Peter, Fife 10 Oct 2007 15:46:12]

Overpaid, oversexed, over-here; not the Yanks our representatives in Parliament.

The majority are egotists are only interested in their own seats on the gravy train; most of them have never done and never will do an honest day’s work in their lives so how can they relate to the Great British Public?

[The Morning Post 10 Oct 2007 15:23:49]

Its the after me your first mentality Jon! When did the premise that it is they who serve us and not us who serve them rotate 180 degrees! By the way i thought Prescott ate all the pies not the chocolate!

[Madnurse 10 Oct 2007 15:18:48]

It just shows what a high opinion of themselves some MPs have.
It is not enough to exempt themselves from laws that apply to everyone else, they even have to show they are too important to queue. Brings to mind the use of bus lanes on the M4 by a certain ex minister. Then again the soviets had special lanes reserved for the Kremlin elite.