McDonald's and BK chase franchise at House of Commons

(Pic left: McDonald's - Coming to a Legislature Near You).

Martin Horwood, Lib Dem MP for Cheltenham, has a dream - he wants to see the Mother of Parliaments become a UNESCO World Hypermarket site. Mr Horwood, elected in May this year, clearly wants to make an impression and has tabled a written question asking the House of Commons to expand its commercial ventures....

Appearing in today’s Hansard – get them while they’re hot – he asks “…if the House of Commons Commission will expand the number of commercial ventures in the House of Commons part of the Parliamentary Estate to include (a) a newsagent, (b) a bookshop, (c) a bank, (d) a laundrette and dry cleaners, (e) a pharmacy, (f) a stationers and (g) an Indian restaurant; and if the Commission will make an assessment of the contribution to public funds such services might make.”

Unfortunately, h) an undertakers i) a Volvo dealership j) a Blockbuster video store and k) a Virgin Megastore were left off the question paper so we are left to wonder what might have been.

Disappointingly, Nick Harvey MP, answering for the House of Commons Commission, and lacking the Orange Book credentials of some his crypto-Thatcherite Lib Dem colleagues, responds by saying there are no current plans to extend the House's commercial activities. Ah well, never mind…we can but dream of a Krispy Kreme doughnuts outlet in Big Ben and an Anne Summers in Central Lobby. Today it may be the stuff of dreams but tomorrow, let's hope and prey, it could be a reality.

(Hat tip: MR)