It’s right the Press had fun at MPs

How pompous can they get? To be fair some MPs have protested and the rules may be withdrawn.

But what did they mean? Restaurants and bars, coffee points, the gym and queues to get through doors? Or even in the lavatories?

Of course some restaurants and bars are reserved for MPs - and former MPs since the place runs like a Club for much of the time, even if you have lost your seat!

It's the same in the House of Lords, some facilities are reserved for peers and top staff. But there are also facilities such as the Lords Bar and the adjacent River Restaurant next to the terrace next to the river, both of which were nicely refurbished last year.

They are open to everyone with a parliamentary badge - peers, spouses, people who work in Parliament, police, even the parliamentary journalists.

So I thought I'd join in the fun and put down a question to the chairman of Committees who is elected by the Lords to be, among other things, responsible for the facilities.

He's one of the remaining hereditary peers and delights in the name of Lord Brabazon of Tara. He did not disappoint me.

I asked: "Whether the decision of the House of Commons authorities that staff and other users should be prepared to give way to Members when queuing has any implications for Members of the House of Lords, for staff working in the House of Lords, or in any House of Lords facilities."

In his answer Lord Brabazon said "it is a general principle within the House of Lords that courtesy governs the use of the House's facilities", which I read as code for "The House of Lords is a polite and egalitarian place and we would never dream of having such a silly pompous rule!"

He added "It is hoped that this principle extends to the use by Members of the House of Lords of facilities located in the House of Commons," - more code for something like "they had better not try it on!"

Quite right too. Why do some people let being elected go to their heads?