Priti Patel, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Witham, visited a number of pubs in the Maldon District meeting both landlords and customers. Priti, who is also Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, met local residents and discussed the Conservatives' action on beer duty, cutting a penny off the pint in consecutive years.
Priti was recently named a Champion of Britain's Beer industry for her role in supporting and securing cuts in beer duty in the 2013 and 2014 Budgets, as well as helping to safeguard jobs and investments and keeping the cost of a pint down for consumers.
Priti said: 'Since 2010 the Conservative Party has actively supported our local pubs and the beer industry by scrapping beer and alcohol duty, doubling small business rate relief, increasing the temporary business rate discount for pubs, giving pubs greater flexibility over weights and measures and removing red tape that hindered pubs holding live music.
'It is great to see local pubs thriving and benefiting from all the support given.'
She added: 'It was wonderful to meet residents enjoying a pint in their local pub. Conservatives are committed to a strategy of lower taxes, less regulation and a growing economy.
'This is the best way to support a thriving and diverse pub sector.'