Public turns against MPs drinking before late votes
Most Britons consider it unacceptable for MPs to drink alcohol before late-night votes, according to new YouGov polling. The findings come amid renewed debate about parliamentary culture and expectations of conduct in Westminster.
A clear majority of the British public takes a distinctly unamused view of MPs repairing to the bar before wandering through the division lobbies later in the evening.
As reported by YouGov, 52% of respondents deem the practice completely unacceptable, with a further 24% judging it somewhat unacceptable. That leaves 76% expressing disapproval in one form or another.
At the other end of the spectrum, just 4% consider it completely acceptable and 11% somewhat acceptable, while 9% remain undecided, perhaps weighing the virtues of a quiet pint against the demands of public office.
Regional differences
According to YouGov, respondents in Scotland and Wales are the most critical, with 60% in both nations saying it is completely unacceptable. London is somewhat less severe, though still disapproving, with 45% selecting “completely unacceptable” and 28% “somewhat unacceptable”.
Elsewhere, the Midlands records 52% completely unacceptable, while the North stands at 53%, suggesting little divergence in overall sentiment.
Gender gap in attitudes
Men are marginally more tolerant than women, though disapproval remains the dominant view among both groups.
As per YouGov, 56% of women say the behaviour is completely unacceptable compared with 48% of men. Meanwhile, 16% of men regard it as somewhat acceptable, more than double the 7% of women expressing that view.
Age appears to influence how strongly people feel about the issue.
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YouGov data shows that those aged 25 to 64 are the most critical, with 55% in both the 25 to 49 and 50 to 64 groups describing the behaviour as completely unacceptable. Among those aged 18 to 24, this figure falls to 43%, alongside a notably higher 21% who say they do not know.
Older respondents aged 65 and over sit between the two, with 47% completely unacceptable and 31% somewhat unacceptable.
Political alignment shows limited divergence
Opinion is relatively aligned across political affiliations, though some nuances emerge.
According to YouGov, 56% of Labour and Green voters say it is completely unacceptable, compared with 53% of Liberal Democrat supporters and 48% of Conservative voters. Reform voters register 55% on the same measure.
Acceptance remains low across all groups, with somewhat acceptable responses ranging from 7% among Green voters to 15% among Conservatives and Reform supporters.
Debate over Westminster culture continues
The findings arrive amid discussion about working practices in Parliament, prompted in part by comments from Green Party MP Hannah Spencer. Spencer has expressed discomfort at encountering colleagues who appear to have been drinking between votes.
Some have argued that Westminster is an environment where long hours and overlapping professional and social interactions have historically included moderate alcohol consumption.
However, Westminster’s traditions and working patterns clearly differ from those of other professions, and public opinion appears firmly set against alcohol consumption ahead of legislative duties.
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