Members of the House of Lords have lodged a series of extravagant complaints about their taxpayer-subsidised restaurants, expressing their anger about the size of menus, “chaotic” table layouts and “inferior cappuccinos”.

Peers can enjoy seared scallops, foie gras and champagne risotto at the Barry Room private restaurant, part of a group of facilities catering to them and their guests which are subsidised by the taxpayer at a cost of £1.3m a year. A full roast dinner costs £9.50. Peers also receive a £300-a-day expenses allowance for attending the House of Lords.

One peer even appealed for the return of “menus printed on light card” for guests to take home as souvenirs, while another said he had been left “scarred” after his dinner booking was cancelled suddenly. He complained that his wife was “unable to lunch elsewhere” because she was wearing a tiara. The Lord recalled: “We were only saved by the kindness of [a fellow peer] who offered us the use of his nearby home to change in and took us out to lunch.”

Sandwich chain Pret a Manger may face calls to curtail its food handouts to homeless people under a plan being considered by the London mayor. The company vowed to keep providing free food to rough sleepers after minutes from Boris Johnson’s rough sleeping group, obtained by Inside Housing under the Freedom of Information Act, revealed the Greater London Authority is considering launching a campaign that would flag to the chain and other businesses the ‘unintended consequences’ of giving food to homeless people.

Croydon Nightwatch, a soup kitchen in south London, also says it faces being forced to move by Croydon Council after allegations from the police that it is a ‘hub’ for ASB.

"mikey mikey"

Honest to God I felt that sorry for them I nearly choked on me dry crust of bread and cup of water. My heart bleeds........

His cruel cuts could mean OAPs having to choose between heating their homes or eating as they lose up to £300 in cold weather payments.

And the over-75s would also have to fork out £145 for TV licences.

That's the year before the PM Robert Jenkinson (AKA Lord Liverpool) passed the infamous Corn Laws, starving the poor and causing riots in London.

So let's wait and see.

Oh, that Tory Lord Liverpool was also in favour of slavery, suspended habeas corpus and promoted religious discrimination.

So, little has changed really.