Two dozen new Liberal Democrat MPs have accepted greater than £30,000 of memberships to a non-public members’ membership, it may be revealed.
The Commons’ third-largest get together has to date largely remained unscathed by the freebies row engulfing Westminster.
However a Mail evaluation of the most recent MPs’ register of pursuits discovered that 25 Lib Dem MPs have accepted free memberships to the celebrated Nationwide Liberal Membership for the reason that July election.
The Nationwide Liberal Membership is only a stone’s throw from Parliament in one among Westminster’s most historic buildings and provides sweeping views over the River Thames.
Established by former Prime Minister William Gladstone in 1882, the organisation’s ex-members additionally embrace Sir Winston Churchill, playwright George Bernard Shaw and poet Rupert Brooke.
Contained in the lounge of The Nationwide Liberal Membership which is only a stone’s throw away from Parliament
Occasion chief Sir Ed Davey (pictured) additionally has complimentary membership, though he accepted his earlier than the election
Europe’s largest freestanding spiral staircase, positioned at The Nationwide Liberal Membership
Its web site states: ‘The Nationwide Liberal Membership provides its members and visitors an oasis of calm, consolation and magnificence within the coronary heart of Westminster.
‘Think about the Pure Historical past Museum, solely grander, extra elegant and extra intimate.’
It boasts a smoking room, Europe’s largest unsupported marble staircase, a number of wood-panelled lounges, bars and eating places and London’s largest personal out of doors terrace space overlooking the River Thames and London Eye.
Bottles of wine promote for as much as £150.
Most MPs registered that their complimentary memberships had been value greater than £1,500 for a yr.
Amongst them are the get together’s deputy chief Daisy Cooper and its schooling spokesman Munira Wilson.
Among the many MPs accepting membership are the get together’s deputy chief Daisy Cooper (left) and its schooling spokesman Munira Wilson (proper)
The surface of The Nationwide Liberal Membership in one among Westminster’s most historic buildings
Occasion chief Sir Ed Davey additionally has complimentary membership, though he accepted his earlier than the election.
The MPs’ register of pursuits additionally reveals that Sir Ed bagged £584-worth of Taylor Swift live performance tickets in August at Wembley Stadium.
Final evening, the get together tried to justify its MPs taking the freebies.
A spokesman mentioned: ‘The Nationwide Liberal Membership was initially based by Liberal MPs to help the get together’s work in Westminster.
‘It will not be an enormous shock that some newly elected Liberal Democrat MPs have continued this century-old custom and brought up the provide of a free year-long membership.’
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