The rest of the country may be suffering the effects of budget cuts but champagne-quaffing politicians are apparently not feeling the pinch.

New figures show a huge spike in the House of Commons' champagne bill over the past four years.

Consumption of the bubbly stuff has steadily grown year on year since the coalition government came into power in 2010, with an increase of 1,482 bottles in the past year alone.

Funds for this come from the taxpayers’ subsidy, as with all bars and restaurants in the Houses of Commons.

The shocking numbers were revealed by parliament officials in response to a Freedom of Information request by Huffington Post UK.

The figures indicated that a total of £275,221 has been spent on buying in more than 25,000 bottles of champagne since the coalition took over in May 2010.

The money is invested on luxury brands such as Taittinger, Lenoble and the House of Commons' own-brand champagnes, for politicians and their guests to enjoy in Parliament's bars and restaurants.

According to the stats, 4,691 of bottles of the fine stuff were ordered the year David Cameron's Conservative-Lib Dem government came to power in 2010.

This figure jumped by 72% - far beyond the level of inflation - to hit 8,082 bottles ordered in 2013.

Number of bottles brought per year by House of Commons staff

Source: Freedom of Information act request by Huffington Post UK

2010/2011: 4,691
2011/2012: 5,832
2012/2013: 6,600
2013/2014: 8,082

House of Commons' champagne bill rises by 72% since 2010