More than £10,500 was spent on champagne and prosecco in the House of Lords in the weeks following Liz Truss' disastrous mini-budget.
Figures obtained by the SNP found that more than 300 bottles of sparkling wine were sold between September 22 and January 8. The mini-budget was announced on September 23 and resulted in an economic disaster for the UK.
Nearly £100 was spent on champagne or prosecco each day, including weekends.
Then-Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announced the controversial mini-budget just over two weeks after Truss became Prime Minister. It contained several unfunded tax cuts, including reducing the basic rate of income tax and scrapping the plan to increase corporation tax this year.
The budget was received poorly by financial markets and the economy took a downward spiral. It eventually led to the sacking of Kwarteng and Truss' resignation after 45 days of being Prime Minister.
Some 111 bottles of House of Lords champagne were sold for a price of £53 during the period, while 37 bottles half bottles were bought for £27.70 each.
Fifty-four bottles of £30 prosecco were bought, as were 93 200ml bottles. They cost £8.60 per bottle.
Ten £53 bottles of Gardet champagne, five bottles of the £68 House of Lords vintage champagne and four bottles of the £55.80 House of Lords rose champagne were also sold throughout the 108-day period.
SNP MP for Edinburgh East Tommy Sheppard said that the findings show how the Westminster system is "not fit for purpose".
Sheppard MP said: “Once again, we can see how out of touch the Westminster system is with working families across the UK.
“Despite Westminster crashing the economy and condemning millions of families to further levels of poverty, unelected members of the House of Lords continue to guzzle champagne by the bucket-load. This will rightly aggrieve voters and push the cause for abolishment of this outdated institution.
“Fundamentally though, the entire Westminster system is not fit for purpose. It is riddled with corruption and sleaze stretching from the House of Commons all the way to the House of Lords.
“The sooner Scotland leaves this broken system and embarks on a new, independent future, the better.”
Sheppard has previously called for the abolition of the House of Lords.
He said in a 2020 article for the SNP website: "The House of Lords exemplifies the archaic and undemocratic nature of the British state. It could be reformed – and whilst we are part of the UK, we will not stand in the way of change – although the pace is glacial.
"But a better answer is to set up a new country and do it better. If we win our political independence, we will have the power to change every aspect of how our lives are ruled. To create our own institutions based on democracy, transparency and accountability.
"That will be our challenge in the early years of our new country – to draw up a modern popular constitution which inspires and represents our citizens. And in doing that, we can use the House of Lords as a template for what to avoid."
A House of Lords spokesperson said:
"All alcohol sold in the House of Lords is sold above cost price. It cannot be assumed that all alcohol bought on the House of Lords estate is consumed by Members and their guests. Many of the cafeterias, restaurants, bars and banqueting venues in the House of Lords where alcohol is on sale are also open to MPs, staff and journalists based in Parliament as well as guests and visitors.”
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