Has Mr Bird of Ladybird Inns Ltd given too much away? He writes (May 13) of the ‘privilege of working closely with Sajid’ in getting another penny off a pint of beer.

It reminds us of the mutual back-scratching when our MP was photographed posing behind the bar as the drinker’s friend.

But it was this cosy relationship between the drinks lobby and the Treasury that scuppered all hopes of minimum alcohol pricing. So does Mr Javid believe cheap drink does Bromsgrove any favours?

And beer-drinkers the last time you bought a round, did you get a refund of that penny?

No? No, I thought not.

Alan Batchelor Rubery