MPs give short back and sides to haircut spending

Politicians have rowed extensively in recent years over how best to trim budgets in an era of austerity.
Hair today: Andrew LansleyHair today: Andrew Lansley
Hair today: Andrew Lansley

Yesterday, however, MPs clashed over who was making the biggest saving at the barbers after it was revealed the Prime Minister spent £90-a-time on his haircut.

The war of haircut austerity broke out in Westminster when Commons Leader Andrew Lansley said his trim at Cambridge barber’s shop Mr Polito’s only cost £15.

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This followed the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg telling listeners to his weekly phone-in on LBC that he spent £20 on his cut in Sheffield. The Sheffield Halham MP said he had his hair trimmed by a man named Christian at Jam Hairdressing in the city’s Oakbrook Road.

He said: “The last time I got my haircut was in Sheffield, in my constituency, where haircuts are considerably cheaper than in London. But I do pay more when I get my hair cut in London, at a barbers/hairdressers just off Victoria Street.”

Both seemed to have beaten by Labour’s shadow Work and Pensions Minister Chris Bryant, Rhondda, who told his followers on Twitter he spent £13 having his haircut.

Mr Lansley said his barber advised him on his haircut but it was cheaper than Mr Clegg’s. He joked: “Actually, it’s £15, so I am getting my haircut cheaper than the Deputy Prime Minister, which just shows you can come to the Conservatives for value for money.”

The price of a haircut from Mr Cameron’s stylist Lino Carbosiero came out after the hairdresser was made an MBE in the New Year Honours, prompting accusations of cronyism.