Conservative MP to meet constituents for a 'drink and a chat' in local pub

21-Jan-2019 - Last updated on 21-Jan-2019 at 09:42 GMT

Order, order: Will Quince MP will be discussing politics with constituents over a drink at the Friar pub in Colchester

Conservative MP Will Quince is to host the first of what he hopes are many ‘Politics in the Pub’ events in his Colchester constituency on Thursday 31 January.

The event at The Friar pub, in Colchester, Essex, offers his constituents the chance to quiz the MP - who also holds regular surgeries at a nearby retail outlets - over a drink.

Having previously chewed the fat with constituents in McDonald's, according to local newspaper The Daily Gazette, Quince hopes that pub events will encourage constituents to open up about pressing political issues.

Speaking to The Morning Advertiser, Quince explained: “We’re increasingly trying to find places and opportunities to go and meet people who haven’t necessarily got an issue or a problem they’d like to raise, but just want to come and talk about what their thoughts are on politics, what’s going on at the moment, that they care passionately about.

“I’ve done it in supermarkets before and thought that pubs would be a really great place to do it too as they’re right in the heart of our local communities.

“It’s a really nice, relaxed environment that anyone can come into, meet other people who are interested in politics and have a relaxed conversation about what they want to see change.”

Open environment

Quince added: “I think a few MPs have done similar sorts of things, but I think what struck me is that whenever I do go to a pub, naturally people will come up to me to talk about politics and what’s going on anyway, so I thought why not organise something and speak to a landlord or landlady and ask whether they mind if I advertise being in their pub and seeing who comes along.”

He explained that amid interest the idea has generated online, and other publicans contacting him with an offer to host similar events, plans are afoot to roll out the concept across his constituency.

“The plan is to do them dotted around the constituency every two of three weeks and give people the opportunity to come and have a drink – alcoholic or non-alcoholic – and a chat,” he said.

“I think the key is to engage with constituents and go into a place where they already are, that’s quite relaxed and somewhere they can have an informal conversation with me and other like minded people talking about something they care about.

“It’s about being as approachable as possible as an MP and giving the feeling that people can come and talk to you about anything in a very friendly, open environment.”