The exile of Top Totty (beer) from a House of Commons bar (following a complaint from the Labour Party’s “equalities” spokeswoman) has been a big story in the UK in the last week, and it appears to have taken a happy turn:

Family-run Staffordshire brewer Slater’s revealed it has seen sales jump since one of its ales upset a MP Kate Green and attracted headlines around the world last week.  Slater’s sales director Fay Slater announced that the firm has been bombarded with phone calls and emails from landlords wanting to get their hands on barrels of Top Totty.

 The welcome boost for the popular ale comes after the four per cent beer was removed from sale at the Strangers’ Bar, in the Houses of Parliament, after shadow equalities minister Ms Green said the pump clip, which features a half-naked lady [bikini-clad, in fact], was offensive.

 Now Slater’s says it has sold around 50 more barrels than it shifts in an average week, with around half a dozen pubs saying they want to start selling the controversial ale too.

 “We have had emails coming in from up and down the country – London, Scotland, Lancashire – you name it, wanting our beer,” she said.

…A Stafford pub has put up a sign to let local drinkers know it is proud to sell beer that has upset a Government minister.  Jane Andrews, and Philip McIntosh who both run The Hop Pole pub in Sandon Road, say weekly sales have tripled in the last few days.

Mr McIntosh said: “The day I put the sign up we had between 20 and 25 people come in saying they just had to try some.”