My advice to Hannah Spencer? Before calling out MPs’ boozing, try to understand the reasons behind it | Gaby Hinsliff
Hannah Spencer, the new Green MP, has criticized the drinking culture in Parliament, comparing it to unacceptable behavior in other professions. The article suggests that the culture stems from long hours, stress, and the need for informal networking rather than mere indulgence. Meaningful change, the piece argues, requires reforming parliamentary procedures, not just moral condemnation.
- ▪Hannah Spencer criticized MPs for drinking during work hours, saying she would have been fired for doing so as a plumber.
- ▪The article notes that Parliament's drinking culture is tied to long voting hours, stress, and the need for informal communication among MPs.
- ▪Reforms such as remote electronic voting are suggested as ways to reduce the reliance on in-person attendance and associated social drinking.
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The terrace of the Houses of Parliament. Photograph: Lisa Ryder/AlamyView image in fullscreenThe terrace of the Houses of Parliament. Photograph: Lisa Ryder/AlamyOpinionHouse of CommonsMy advice to Hannah Spencer? Before calling out MPs’ boozing, try to understand the reasons behind itGaby HinsliffThe new MP is right that parliament’s drinking culture is fundamentally weird. But to change it, we need to reset the whole institutionFri 1 May 2026 01.00 EDTLast modified on Fri 1 May 2026 04.19 EDTShareSeven o’clock on a Monday night and I am standing in the House of Commons, nursing a glass of vinegary white wine.All around me are people doing the same, though it’s polite sipping rather than getting sloshed.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Guardian — Politics.
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