Expensive UK Government Wine Cellar Causes Controversy
The announcement that the wine cellar of the UK government is worth nearly £800,000 has some people up in arms over questions of extravagance. The government's cellar has over 39,000 bottles of wine including around 500 bottles of spirits and liqueurs for a total of £792,000. Liberal Democrat MP Don Foster was quoted in the BBC News as saying that the huge cellar shows that the government is living 'beyond its means'. Figures show that the ministers spent a total of £5 million on wining and dining including more than £100,000 toward maintaining Whitehall wine cellar, stocking it with vintage and non-vintage Champagne, red Bordeaux and white Burgundy wine.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
C.S. Apr 30th 2009 11:54PM
I don't think the comparison to the White House is apt. First off, there is one President, but 1,388 members of Parliament. What is referred to by the article? Is it all 1,388 members? Or the 646 members of the House of Commons? Or -- since the article refers to "Whitehall" and the "Government" -- do they just mean the ministers? Either way, there's a lot of people with a claim on that wine, as opposed to the White House cellar. In fact, I'm kind of shocked that the White House stocks so little wine. I know Dubya wasn't a wine guy -- and claimed not to drink at all -- but 500-600 bottles wouldn't last any president very long.
And why has nobody pointed out the obvious about the English cellar --- that the collection was most likely built up over time. I can't imagine they spent £792,000 -- that's just what it's worth now. There's probably also a tax advantage for an MP or Minister to donate his private cellar as well.
Andy May 1st 2009 12:02AM
I was going to comment, but C.S. already covered it.
hgv May 2nd 2009 8:41PM
WHY do we need to read useless gossip. these are working people at one time or now it seems. so what if they buy things they like. they could pay for stuff. or I would inquire ,I just dont buy those or like that sort of thing
uncle buck May 2nd 2009 9:09PM
I understand the GOSheep (Republicans) have a "whine" cellar where Newt is the somellier and Cantor and Boehner are used as cork holders. Guess where they hold the corks......
Linda May 2nd 2009 10:13PM
WELCOME, Uncle Buck, you win the award for being the first A-hole on this board. I just knew we couldn't get away with sticking to the subject matter for long. Dems or Republicans have NOT a thing to do with this subject you dolt.
Mark May 2nd 2009 10:43PM
Satanists(democrats) had their own "whine cellar" for 8 years, HYPOCRITE!!
jwallstrom May 2nd 2009 10:29PM
Washington state wine is scaring the French.
Mark May 2nd 2009 10:45PM
I don't know why they are upset over the expensive wine when they have been supporting the Royal Leeches for years.
Alfred May 2nd 2009 11:36PM
OK! Now the secret must be revealed. It has to do with Great Britain's national security.
The wine was used in training the "OOs" to discern expensive wines in order to "wow" their opponents using the highly trained, sophisticated and discerning palates of British secret agents.
As we all know OO7 used this training successfully on countless occasions. Many an arrogant bad guy was thrown off balance and convinced they were out sophisticated and out machoed by OOs well trained with these expensive but essential wines.
Cut those wines from the national budget and one risks the safety of the entire British Empire. ;)
Response by an American political press secretary in training.
Orland Foulks May 3rd 2009 1:44AM
Thomas Jefferson (our third president) ordered more then twenty thousand bottles of imported French wine in his first year of office. Also, thousands of gallons of domestic hard cider, rum and a medira wine in cask from Portugal. Jefferson, according to the historians was a moderate comsumer.
thirsty@home May 4th 2009 12:08AM
simple solution; send some of it to me!
Max May 3rd 2009 5:26AM
You don't think MPs make all of those wacky decisions while they are sober, do you?
Fact: The idea for the National ID Card scheme was put forward immediately after they had each drank several bottles of '85 Gloria.