In a clip from today's podcast, Seán, Ava, and Andy unpack yesterday’s interview with Green MP Hannah Spencer, diving into the controversy around drinking culture in Westminster. Spencer didn’t hold back, describing how "uneasy" she felt about the normalisation of alcohol in Parliament, claiming that "you can smell the alcohol when people are in between votes".
The trio explore what this says about the broader culture in Westminster, where drinking has long been embedded in day-to-day political life. Spencer raised concerns not just about MPs, but also the impact on staff working in that environment, pointing to a culture that can feel exclusionary and unsafe.
The discussion centres around a perceived double standard: while most people in the UK can't drink while doing their job, MPs can. As Spencer puts it, "the world doesn’t work like that", calling the practice "out of touch" and reminding listeners that, ultimately, "it’s a job". Seán, Ava, and Andy debate whether the tradition is defensible or just outdated.
Like PoliticsJOE? We need your support:
https://www.patreon.com/PoliticsJOE
