A UNIQUE beer award has been given to Stroud MP Neil Carmichael in Parliament.

Mr Carmichael was given a certificate and souvenir pump clip for his Beer Champions award on Tuesday, February 24, presented to him by the British Beer and Pub Association and the Society of Independent Brewers.

The special honour is a joint initiative from the two groups who want to recognise the role MPs played in supporting Britain’s national drink during the 2010 to 2015 Parliament.

The award highlights Mr Carmichael’s support in securing historic consecutive cuts in beer duty in the 2013 and 2014 budgets, as well as his help to safeguard jobs and investment and keeping beer affordable for consumers.

Mr Carmichael is also supporting a third, consecutive duty cut in this year’s Budget.

Beer and pubs support in the Stroud Valleys and Vale over 1,450 jobs and contributes £30.5 million towards our local gross domestic product.

Mr Carmichael said: “We have some truly great pubs in the Stroud Valleys and the Vale - the Salutation Inn in Ham, Campaign for Real Ale Pub of the Year, and the Red Lion in Arlingham, Gloucester Rural Pub of the Year, being just two of so many.

The sector matters to us in many different ways and this is why I have worked so hard to promote and support it.”