THE country’s most important politicians will soon be quaffing pints of Darwen ale as they look to relax after a busy day in Parliament.

Award-winning microbrewery Hopstar’s new brew ‘Darwen Spitfire’ will be available at Strangers’ Bar – the Houses of Parliament pub – throughout March.

The beer will be available as a guest ale in the pub, frequented by MPs, peers, their guests and parliamentary staff, and will also be sold locally.

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It is already on offer at Number 39 Hopstar Brewery Tap, where brewery founder Barry Tyson – who launched Hopstar from his garage more than a decade ago – says it has gone down well.

The name ‘Darwen Spitfire’ pays tribute to the fighter plane bought by the town, with money raised from public subscription, during the Second World War.

Darwen MP Jake Berry, who arranged for the beer to be sold in Strangers’ Bar, said: “I was really pleased to be able to get Darwen Spitfire on tap in the Commons so that we can celebrate Darwen on a national level.

“Hopstar is a fantastic local brewery and I am sure the beer will be a very popular addition to the bar.

“This is a real opportunity to put this fantastic local business on the map.

“As well as promoting Hopstar Brewery, it gives publicity to our town’s fantastic war-time record of ‘through public donation’ paying for a Second World War spitfire.”

Natalie Tyson, director of the award-winning microbrewery, said: “I am really looking forward to going down to the House of Commons and seeing our ale on tap there.

“This is a brand new all-British beer using no foreign malt or hops.”

Last year, Mr Berry tried to take a beer from Rossendale microbrewery Irwell Works that was named in honour of the Britannia Coconut Dancers, but it was thrown out by parliamentary chiefs who said its image “may have caused offence”.

The Coconutters hit out, saying their traditional black make-up and colourful costumes were a celebration of Lancashire’s mining heritage, and have “no racial element whatsoever”.

The pale ale was renamed Britannia’s Best in order to be accepted.