Communities secretary Eric Pickles was seen nodding wildly as George Osborne scrapped his beer duty escalator in this week's Budget, but Diary was surprised to learn DCLG staff have been guzzling cheap booze for some time.
This week, Honourable Eric announced plans to scrap a taxpayer-subsidised bar in his glass fortress, Eland House. Now, at first appearance, this appears sensible – especially considering the glut of licenced premises in the surrounding streets of Victoria.
