Labour ends 900-year-old venison perk

11 August 1997

Labour ends 900-year-old venison perk

LABOUR is ending the 900-year-old annual right for ministers, top civil servants and senior members of the royal household to receive two haunches of venison from the Queen.

In the future it will only be offered to the Queens closes friends and admirers. The rest will go for sale in top shops and exclusive butchers.

It is part of culture secretary Chris Smiths campaign to save taxpayers money.