I suspect most people would be envious to see “3.30pm – go to pub” in their diary in the morning – it certainly makes a change from the usual transport meetings or constituency appointments that fill up my Wednesday afternoons in recess.

But don’t worry, as you know I’m a tee-totaller!

Later today I’m joining Martin Linton MP & and Kate Hoey MP (Battersea and Vauxhall respectively) at The Eagle Ale House in Battersea, where we’re meeting local pub landlords to discuss the problems facing their businesses at the moment.

Our local pubs play an important role in the communities they serve, but at the moment many are struggling; throughout the country two pubs are closing every week, landlords are finding it hard to make ends meet (I was shocked to find out over 50% of landlords who lease their pubs earn less than £15,000 a year), and there are concerns that customers may be paying over the odds for a pint due to the way the industry is run.

So something needs to be done – to help our local pubs, and to keep the price of a pint in them down – hence the meeting today.

I want to meet local landlords to discuss the challenges facing them, and I’ll be passing on their views to my colleagues in Parliament, and representing their concerns to Government. To me this is what being an MP is all about, listening to concerns of the people and businesses we represent and ensuring this is fed into policy making at the highest level.