Broxtowe MP and Defence Minister Anna Soubry has been hailed a 'champion of the weak' after breaking up a fight at a Pret A Manger in Westminster.
Ms Soubry, 57 - who has previously described herself as a 'tough old bird', stepped in as a drunk man allegedly fought with two employees at the coffee shop.
According to The Sun, Ms Soubry stood between the group before blocking the man from returning to the cafe.
She told The Sun: "I shouted at the drunk guy, "stop it, stop it now". They often listen to women because they don't expect it.
"It was only afterwards that I thought perhaps that wasn't the brightest thing to do."
Sherwood MP, Mark Spencer, said of his Conservative colleague: "I think this is fairly typical. She's somebody who is a courageous person and is not fearful of stepping in and saying what she thinks.
"I think she is a champion of the weak and will step in where others fear to tread.
"That's what I would want from my MP."
Ms Soubry has been taking action against tram works in Beeston in a call for more compensation for businesses affected by the work.
Alan Harvey, who owns Talk Back, a market research company in Queen's Road, said that Ms Soubry is not afraid to speak up for the people.
"She is quite feisty and for that I commend her. She will speak up for people when no-one else would listen.
"She's the only person who came back to me when I wrote in about the tram works in Beeston.
"I have a great deal of respect for her. She's one of the few politicians who will give you an answer and I admire her for that."
Before taking up the position of Defence Minister in October, Ms Soubry claimed she initially believed the Prime Minister appointed her to the post of public health minister in 2012 because it was seen as a "soft...girly option".
She told Total Politics: "To be quite frank, when the PM said to me: 'I want you to do public health [...] Boss, you do know what you've just done? You've given public health to the girl again, except I'm not a girl, I'm a tough old bird.'"
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said a man was arrested on suspicion of assault following the incident in Horseferry Road at around 7am on Tuesday.
