Tipgate: ‘Tightwad’ David Cameron Refuses to Tip Italian Waitress

David Cameron, August 5 2011, Vatican City. Photo credit: UK in Italy

reportedly had to collect the coffees from the bar himself

‘Tipgate’ comes hot on the heels of a bitterly tough month for the British PM who has been heavily criticised for his cosy links to disgraced News International executive Rebekah Brooks and for his handling of the stagnating Libyan intervention.

• It’s all about the tip. Lucy Jones of The Daily Telegraph, who previously worked as a waitress, argued that Cameron was “shown up to be a shameless cheapskate.” “No matter that the waitress apparently told him to pick up the cappuccinos himself (perhaps a reaction to his dodgy, sockless footwear?); Dave was left looking unmistakeably miserly.” For a waitress, it’s “all about the tip” informed Jones, who advised: “So be warned. The average waitress hates her job. She banters through gritted teeth. She expects to be talked down to, and isn’t often disappointed. You should treat her politely, show a little respect and tip her correctly. If you can manage this, then you might not get outed as a tightwad on the front page of The Daily Telegraph.”

• Coalition has allowed catering staff to continue to be exploited. Ex-waiter Ross Raisin declared that “whether or not he took the wrong action in Italy, it is the service staff of his own country that Cameron and his coalition government have really let down.” Raisin argued that the Tories have not done enough to stop the catering industry from exploiting their staff. Raisin argued that “in the absence of regulation” some companies take up to 40% off credit card tips because by law, anything left by card is the property of the restaurant. Raisin lamented that “the coalition’s bonfire of red tape is seeing employment law ‘slimmed down’ to make it simpler and more cost-effective – at the expense of employees’ rights.”

“It is amazing, given how familiar most people are with eating out, how little we know about what goes on in restaurants, and where our tip goes. Until the coalition sets about implementing firm and clear regulation of tipping, consumers will continue to be left in the dark,” insisted Raisin.

• Cameron’s attitude to tipping is in line with most Brits. At The Sun, Tim Spanton defended Cameron’s non-tipping: “If a survey of British tipping habits is anything to go by, Mr Cameron was right not to tip,” said Spanton, who pointed to a MyVoucherCodes.co.uk poll which shows that fewer Brits are leaving gratuities this year, with only 63 percent happy to tip for good service. The Sun contacted David Miller of etiquette experts Debrett’s, who delivered fool-proof tipping advice: “In restaurants you should tip ten to 15 per cent if you are happy with the service, in cash if possible. That way you know your waiter or waitress will receive the money, rather than it going into a pot to be split among the staff. If the service is bad, adjust your tip accordingly. If service is included and you have had bad service, then you are entitled to say you don’t want to pay all of the service charge. Only refuse to pay the entire service charge if the service has been really terrible.”