Let them eat cake, right after we get our piece first…

Old entitlements are hard to break we guess...

There’s trouble a brewin’ at the Mother Parliament, as Members of Parliament at Westminster take a few steps back on the evolutionary chain and declare themselves to be just a little above the little people.

British lawmakers have decided that they, the elected elites of British society now have the right to trample the secretaries, mail room clerks and janitors amongst others, on their way to nourishment, potty breaks and elevation.

British MPs have granted themselves the power to cut in front of staff at restaurants, restrooms and elevators, a move that has enraged the close to 10,000 plebes that work on their behalf in that bastion of democracy.

And in case the little people forget their place, signs have been prominently placed in the cafeterias, bathrooms and elevators to remind them of their station in Parliamentary life.

It brings to mind that old Orwellian axiom from Animal Farm, that "All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others. "; especially when strapping on the feed bag we assume.

For the record, the party with the majority of seats in the British Parliament is the Labour Party, a collection of fellow travellers supposedly dedicated to the betterment of life for all.

Just not those that they work in close proximity to we assume.

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Interestingly enough, the Labour Party mission statement, if you will, is : "Meeting the aspirations of the British people".

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An aspiration that it seems includes waiting in line, while those they elect step ahead of them...

Mr. Orwell we suspect would be very amused by the progress of democracy.

From the on line edition of the Globe and Mail.

British MPs give selves queue-jumping privileges
DAVID STRINGER
Associated Press
October 16, 2007 at 10:39 AM EDT

LONDON — A heated political battle is brewing between legislators and staff in the ancient corridors of Parliament, cutting across two national obsessions: privilege and waiting in lines.
British MPs granted themselves the power to cut in front of staff at restaurants, restrooms and elevators — enraging aides, secretaries, chefs and janitors alike. The home of Britain's Parliament is in danger of appearing decidedly undemocratic, workers have warned.

“People are outraged,” said Kevin Flack, an aide and labour union representative. “They are shocked by the attitude behind it as much as anything.”

Mr. Flack, one of around 10,000 workers at the site, said staff feel they are being ranked as second-class citizens by elected members. Flack and workers' representatives were meeting Tuesday with MPs hoping to persuade them to scrap the change.

The edict was approved by Peter Grant Peterkin, Parliament's flamboyantly dressed sergeant-at-arms, an administrator whose ceremonial uniform includes buckled boots, tights and a sword.

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Legislators sitting on the House of Commons administration committee also backed the ruling, prompting signs to be hung in cafes and restaurants reminding staff to give legislators priority.

Circulated by e-mail and in a memo, the directive tells staff to allow extra time to post mail or collect lunch at times when Parliament's services are likely to be in high demand from MPs.

“At a time when Parliament is trying to bring itself into the modern world, this feels like a step back to ancient times,” Mr. Flack said.

Legislator Lembit Opik, best known for his obsession with asteroid strikes and his pop star girlfriend, is backing their claim and has rallied the support of fellow MPs.

“This announcement serves to create a rigid two-tier system which is counter to an enlightened image of Parliament,” Mr. Opik said in a motion reprimanding colleagues for allowing the changes.

There is “merit in a general presumption of equality,” said Mr. Opik's statement, which had been signed by 68 other legislators early Tuesday.