Their lordships rouse themselves to make a meal of tipping debate

In between snoozing and stumbling over protocol, meaningless deliberations on restaurant service go stale

Lord Rennard has more time on his hands than he would like right now, having jumped before he was pushed from the Liberal Democrats’ federal executive for a second time earlier this month. On the plus side, he has had a chance to use the gaps that have opened up in his diary to fit in a few more meals out. Possibly even at Pizza Express. At least that was one inference to be drawn from his sudden interest in the delicate nature of tipping restaurant staff.

Dissatisfied with the answers he had received from his own party – “Our tip is to keep your hands to yourself and don’t try to chat them up” – Rennard took his concerns to the House of Lords. “This Christmas, some of us might be feeling particularly generous,” he said, an observation that was met with near total silence: austerity is clearly getting to their lordships as well as the rest of us. “How can we ensure all gratuities go to the waiting staff? Are my noble friends aware that all credit card payments are the legal property of the restaurant owners?”