Speaker’s supermarket sweep

LORDS Speaker Frances D’Souza appears to be competing with her Commons counterpart John Bercow when it comes to parliamentary perks.

D’Souza, who earns around £130,000 a year, has collected souvenirs in the past two years including a scarf from Pakistan, a brooch from Canada, a towel from Serbia, a jewellery box, and a picture with an ‘elaborate cat pattern’ from Russia. There was little chance of her going hungry or thirsty either. The peer, who can accept gifts up to £140, kept or ate Pakistani mangoes, dates, Swiss chocolates and Korean pears. Her haul also included champagne, brandy and rum.

She did, however, turn down a signed album by South Korean ‘musician’ Psy, of Gangnam Style fame. One has to draw the line somewhere, I suppose.