A SHADOW minister learned to be a barista as he went behind the counter and poured coffee. 

Ed Balls, the Labour shadow chancellor, pitched up at Small Batch Coffee Company near Hove Station and was walked through the process of how coffee goes from beans to cup.

The MP for Morley and Outwood was in Brighton and Hove meeting with the Labour parliamentary candidate for Hove to discuss the importance to small business.

Mr Balls said: “Businesses like this is where the jobs are created, it's where the new ideas happen and many of our largest companies started off as small businesses who tried something new who broke the mould and innovated.

“There are going to be some of businesses which set up and stay small. But some of them will grow and expand and become the big employers of the future. 

“You have to ensure your economy is always opening doors and allowing the new guys to come in and have a go.”

He added he thought his coffee was “fabulous” and never knew coffee beans were green.

Peter Kyle, Labour PPC for Hove, said: ““If we are going to get productivity up and we are going to create those jobs it is through supporting companies like Small Batch. 

“This is why I was so keen to get Ed to come here to see what a really successful independent company that is aspirational and growing and providing real good quality jobs looks like.”