She assigned the shirt a number and turned to the next prize. This was a set of six fish knives and forks, made by Hamilton and Inches, and a very handsome prize for somebody. This would be popular at a Conservative function, but would be useless at a Labour Party event. They had no idea, she believed, of the use of fish knives and forks and used the same cutlery for everything. That was part of the problem. The Liberal Democrats, of course, knew what fish knives and forks were all about, but pretended they didn't care! Liberal Hypocrites, thought Sasha.
In this passage from "44 Scotland Street" by Alexander McCall Smith, a character meticulously organizes prizes for an event, assigning numbers to each item. Among the prizes is an elegant set of fish knives and forks, which she recognizes would be appreciated at a Conservative gathering but misfit at a Labour event, indicating a divide in social customs. The character reflects on how different political parties have distinct attitudes towards dining etiquette.
She perceives Labour members as unaware of the significance of specialized cutlery, using generic utensils for all meals, while recognizing that the Liberal Democrats are aware but deliberately downplay their knowledge. This observation leads her to label the Liberals as hypocritical, showcasing her frustration with the pretenses and social distinctions that characterize political affiliations.
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