'Reform or face up to Competition Commission inquiry'

The pub industry must accept real reform if it is to avoid a Competition Commission inquiry.

That's the warning from vociferous anti-tie MP Greg Mulholland, who welcomed tomorrow's crunch meeting hosted by the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR).

"I wish the ALMR well in this initiative, they have done well to get the different groups together considering the different positions they hold and hope they can for once get some unity," he said.

"However having shown last year that the industry could not even unite to campaign to save pubs, I worry that as usual some associations and companies will continue to act only in their own interest, but we will have to wait and see."

The Lib Dem MP, also chair of the Save the Pub Group, last week called for the bosses of Britain's biggest pubcos to step down.

"There are some people, in both companies and trade associations who have been saying that there were no problems, and rejecting any change.

"They have lost all credibility and cannot possibly be involved with leading the industry towards much needed reform.

"This is the last chance saloon for the industry to change itself and the Save the Pub group will be watching with interest.

But he warned: "If all that comes out is warm words and window dressing then the matter must be addressed by the Government and the Competition Commission and enforced by legislative change to put an end to unfair business practices and to save the many pubs that will be closed as a result of them."