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Top Totty ale faces ban from parliament bar after complaint Top Totty banned from parliament bar
(40 minutes later)
A beer called Top Totty should be banned from a parliamentary bar because its pump plate is offensive to women, an MP has said. A beer called Top Totty by a Stafford-based brewer has been banned from a parliamentary bar because its pump plate featuring a half-naked lady caused offence.
Shadow equalities minister Kate Green was left "disturbed" after seeing the 4% ale in a popular Westminster watering hole and demanded bar staff remove it from sale. The shadow equalities minister, Kate Green, was left "disturbed" after seeing the 4% ale's advertising in a popular Westminster watering hole and demanded bar staff remove it from sale.
The beer, sold for £2.70 pint in parliament's Strangers' Bar, has proved very popular with drinkers, according to a barman, who added: "We haven't had any complaints raised with our bar staff." Within 90 minutes, House authorities ordered the beer to be withdrawn after the leader of the Commons, Sir George Young, told MPs: "Action will be taken."
But Green today told MPs: "I was disturbed last night to learn that the guest beer in the Strangers' Bar is called Top Totty, and there is a picture of a nearly naked woman on the tap." A barman said: "I can confirm it was withdrawn from sale at 1.30pm."
She called for a Commons debate on "dignity at work in parliament" and asked the leader of the House, Sir George Young, to back her demands for Top Totty to be withdrawn immediately from the bar. The bitter backlash developed after Green told the Commons: "I was disturbed last night to learn that the guest beer in the Strangers' Bar is called Top Totty and there is a picture of a nearly naked woman on the tap."
Speaking as MPs discussed future Commons business, Young said he was "not aware of this particular picture" but pledged to raise the issue with House authorities. She called for a debate on "dignity at work in parliament" and asked Young to back her demands for Top Totty to be withdrawn immediately.
"I am sure appropriate action will be taken," he said. "I would very much regret it if any offensive pictures were on display in any part of the House." Top Totty's Stafford-based brewer, Slater's, describes the ale as "a stunning blonde beer, full-bodied with a voluptuous hop aroma".
Top Totty's Stafford-based brewer Slater's describes the ale as "a stunning blonde beer, full-bodied with a voluptuous hop aroma". Its website adds: "This award winning beer, brewed solely with Whitbread Goldings hops, produces an initial burst of bitterness with a citrus fruity finish."
Its website adds: "This award-winning beer, brewed solely with Whitbread Goldings hops, produces an initial burst of bitterness with a citrus fruity finish." The beer's withdrawal comes as a blow to Tory MP Jeremy Lefroy, who arranged for Top Totty to be sold in in the bar.
Sally Bercow, the wife of the Commons Speaker John Bercow and a prolific Twitter user, used the microblogging site to vent her fury. Announcing its introduction as a guest ale, the Stafford MP said: "This is a great opportunity to showcase a fantastic and award-winning beer. Slater's Brewery produces many popular beers which have been brewed locally for more than 15 years and it is great to be able to share some of Staffordshire's finest produce with colleagues in parliament."
She wrote: "Cannot *believe* that there's a beer called Top Totty on sale in the Commons! Outrageous - does Mr B know?"