Optics are awful’: MPs to be allowed to drink at Westminster again
April 16, 2021, 10:11 am

Optics are awful’: MPs to be allowed to drink at Westminster again

A seated outdoor area is planned for a spot between Portcullis House and the Derby Gate entrance.

Fears that resumption of alcohol sales, restricted due to Covid, will incentivise return to Commons

Plans are under way for MPs to be allowed to drink outside on the parliamentary estate again within a week, after sales of alcohol were stopped there in line with restrictions on hospitality under England’s old coronavirus tier system.

After the reopening of beer gardens on 12 April, a seated outdoor area is being earmarked between Portcullis House, where many MPs’ offices are, and the Derby Gate entrance to parliament.

The space would be accessible to MPs and up to three guests, as well as journalists who are members of the press gallery or lobby. However, other parliamentary pass-holders would be able to use the area only on Thursdays and Fridays.

Multiple sources told the Guardian the proposal for the site was endorsed by the Commons Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle. His spokesperson declined to comment.

It will be discussed at a meeting of senior MPs on the administration committee and House of Commons commission next Monday.

Tory backbencher Charles Walker, who chairs the administration committee, said the scheme was “part of a phased return of house facilities”.

He said: “Where we can, we want to mirror, in good time, the government’s roadmap back to normality. Offering a limited outdoor table service, perhaps as early as next week, will put us on the same footing as those venues that started providing hospitality this past Monday.

“We are looking forward to getting things back to normal across the house but that is going to take a bit of time. So reopening will most likely be phased.”

Another source revealed a tent had been considered for the area, but later said fences were more likely to be used to mark it out instead.

There is particular hesitancy among some in the Commons given what they describe as “hypocrisy” and “conflict” between messaging from parliamentary authorities seeming to dissuade workers from returning to the estate, compared with the incentive that being able to socialise outdoor with colleagues could provide.

An insider said some senior officials seemed to be “having a meltdown” over the proposal, claiming: “The optics are awful.”

The sale of alcohol in parliament has been a particularly controversial topic since coronavirus restrictions were introduced. There are many bars dotted around the estate, but they closed when the pandemic broke out.

Some hospitality venues in the Palace of Westminster began selling alcohol again when lockdown ended, but then authorities decided they should follow the same 10pm curfew rule that was introduced for other businesses selling alcohol late last year.

source: Aubrey Allegretti

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.