A CONTINGENT of East Lancashire's MPs are preparing to join forces in a bid to get a local tipple on tap in the House of Commons.

Home Secretary Jack Straw, Darwen MP Janet Anderson and Hyndburn member Greg Pope plan to lobby the Commons' Beer Committee and get local brew Thwaites bitter behind the bar in the Parliament pub - Strangers. A popular haunt for hard-working MPs, Strangers has already played host to a local beer from the Blackpool Beer Company at the request of new Blackpool MP Gordon Marsden. That particular brew went down a storm with Mr Marsden's colleagues from across the country.

Now, the battling trio hope the same can be done with Blackburn's favourite pint.

Janet Anderson said: "There is a wide spread of ale on sale in Strangers from all over the country. "Thwaites is a brand which every-one in the area knows and we are sure would go down a storm in the Parliament bar.

"We now need to educate other people to our way of thinking."

She added: "There have been other drinks on the guest list at the pub before, but we have to lobby the Commons Beer club first.

"It would certainly be ver prestigious to have our local favourite on tap." Thwaites Marketing Manager John Siddeley said: "If there is an opportunity for our beers to go on sale in the Commons, we would be more than happy to oblige."

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