NEW PARLIAMENTARY SAVE THE PUB GROUP LAUNCHED
February 4, 2009 7:00 AM
Today in Parliament the All Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group has been launched which will bring together Parliamentarians who want to add their voice to the efforts to preserve and protect the British pub.
The group will be independent, and will work with all associations, organisations and campaign groups, and also licensees and pub customers, to secure the future of the British pub.
The group already has 65 members from the House of Commons and Lords, including members from 5 different political parties.
Greg Mulholland MP, who has been elected as Chair of the Group, said:
"The closure of pubs up and down the country is a tragedy not only for the communities they serve, but for the nation as pubs are a part of our history and heritage.
"This is something that should and must be taken much more seriously in Westminster and Whitehall, and it is time that national and local Government accepted their responsibilities to protect and support pubs. This new group will push them to do so.
"Clearly we need a reversal in the ill conceived hikes in beer duty and a more level playing field between the on and off trade, but it is also time to address the fact that the way some companies operate the tie is no longer fair and is making some pubs unviable. There are also pubs being closed simply to suit shareholders interests when the pubs in themselves could and would be taken on by another operator.
"If we are serious as a nation about protecting our pubs and our heritage, then it is high time we enshrined the pub in law and gave communities a say before they are taken from them. The new group will make common cause with some groups on some issues and others on other issues, but unlike some in the trade we will address all the things that are threatening and closing pubs.
"It is also time to listen more to the voices of licensees and of pub customers as well as the many trade associations who represent particular sections of the trade, but we look forward to working with everyone in Britain who genuinely wants to fight for the future of the British pub."
ENDS
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