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LONDON (AP) — U.K. diplomats should boost the economy after Brexit by ditching champagne, cava and prosecco in favor of British bubbly at embassy receptions, a lawmaker said Tuesday.
Conservative legislator Nusrat Ghani was seeking to pass a law requiring U.K. diplomatic missions to serve British wines and sparkling wines.
As the country prepares to leave the European Union, she says that it must "be imaginative in supporting and promoting" British businesses.
What better way, she asked, than "to give the world a taste by serving U.K.-produced wine and sparkling wine in our 268 embassies, High Commissions and consulates around the world?"
Long derided, English wine is now a growing industry, with more than 5 million bottles produced last year. English sparkling wines have won several awards — and Ghani said English fizz was even mistaken for champagne at a reception in Paris.
Ghani, who represents a southern England wine region, introduced her bill in the House of Commons on Tuesday.
It's scheduled for further debate but is unlikely to become law unless the government decides to support it.
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