Conservative Party

Tories pledge to support pubs ‘must go further’

18-Nov-2019 By Alice Leader

The Conservative Party has vowed to protect Britain’s ailing towns and communities in a sweeping package of measures, including slashing business rates for pubs.

Government proposes deposit scheme for bottles

03-Oct-2017 By Michelle Perrett

The drinks industry is being asked for its views on how a deposit return scheme for glass, plastic and metal containers could work after the Government launched a consultation process on the issue.

Caution over business rates revise

19-Oct-2015 By Emily Sutherland

The trade has given George Osborne’s shake-up of business rates a cautious welcome, despite some fears that squeezed councils will use pubs as ‘cash cows’ to generate extra income.

general election

Tories confirm business rates review to 'back small firms'

14-Apr-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

Prime Minister David Cameron has confirmed that the business rates review will “back small firms” by ensuring there is clearer billing, better communication and a more efficient appeal system.

election special

Beer Group chair Andrew Griffiths on the Government's achievements

08-Apr-2015 By Andrew Griffiths

As we are at the end of this parliament, it is worth looking back at the past five years to see the impact it has had on the brewing and pub industry.

Home Office minister Norman Baker quits

04-Nov-2014 By Mike Berry

The Home Office minister overseeing a range of policies affecting the licensed trade has resigned.

Welsh pub company makes its own World Cup plans after Home Office snub

07-Apr-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Brains has announced plans to show England's World Cup opener in its pubs despite the country being excluded from the Government's licensing u-turn.

Thatcher’s alcohol legacy Part 1: The Beer Orders

22-Apr-2013 By Phil Mellows

Amid the tsunami of verbiage in the wake of the earthquake that was the death of Margaret Thatcher, barely a drop has mentioned her impact on alcohol policy.

Home Office minister expresses alcohol minimum pricing doubts

03-Dec-2012 By Mark Wingett

Prime Minister David Cameron’s plan for a minimum price of 45p a unit for alcohol suffered an embarrassing blow when it emerged that the Minister responsible for alcohol and crime prevention thinks it is wrong, unfair and won’t work, according to the...

Miliband urged to support minimum pricing

11-Mar-2012 By Michelle Perrett

A Scottish MP has urged the Labour leader Ed Miliband to back plans for the minimum pricing of alcohol in the UK.  

Mulholland presses for shadow pubs minister

11-Apr-2011 By Lesley Foottit

Greg Mulholland has written to Labour leader Ed Miliband reiterating earlier requests for the appointment of a shadow pubs minister. The call came...

Pete Brown: Let's defend pubs in language politicians understand

06-Jan-2011

I think we can safely say that anyone hoping for a better deal for pubs after the general election is now disappointed. From Theresa May's completely...

Licensing Law: TENs to transform

03-Nov-2010

Now is the time of year when many operators start to turn their minds to whether they need to use temporary event notices (TENs) to secure extended...

BBPA chief plays down May's tough talk on licensing

06-Oct-2010 By James Wilmore

Trade chief Brigid Simmonds has played down Theresa May's tough talk on licensing, arguing it goes against what Home Office officials are saying in...

BBPA voices licensing concerns to Home Office

29-Sep-2010 By Ewan Turney

The BBPA held a meeting with Home Office officials yesterday to voice concerns over the proposed changes to the Licensing Act.

Home Office 'looking carefully' at trade's licensing fears

29-Sep-2010 By James Wilmore

The Home Office is "listening" and "looking carefully" at the industry's concerns over the licensing shake-up, according to the British Beer &...

Minimum pricing likely via bylaws

15-Sep-2010 By John Harrington

Home Office minister James Brokenshire has given the clearest indication yet that councils could get powers to impose minimum pricing on alcohol...

Barrister labels licensing consultation 'a nonsense'

19-Aug-2010 By Matt Eley Matt

A leading licensing lawyer has slammed the Home Office for allowing just six weeks for responses to its plans for licensing reform as "a nonsense"....

Alcohol licensing will remain with DCMS

20-May-2010 By John Harrington

In an apparent U-turn, DCMS minister John Penrose gets the licensing brief. However, the Home Office will still have a say in some areas.

Home Office 'will control licensing'

17-May-2010 By John Harrington

Control of licensing is to return to the Home Office under the new coalition Government, a senior Tory source has told the MA.

Hamish Champ: Lord Bell didn't strike the right note

03-May-2010 By Hamish Champ

I was looking forward to hearing what advice Tim Bell had to offer the pub trade when he addressed last week's ALMR 'Business Day' conference. While...

Lord Bell: it's going to be horrible after the election

30-Apr-2010 By The PMA Team

Lord Tim Bell has urged pubs to diversify by offering "information, news and entertainment". The public relations guru, who was made a peer by...

Market ahead of politicians

23-Apr-2010 By Gemma McKenna

Laws forcing pubco reform may not see the light of day until April 2014, according to CGA Strategy chief executive Jon Collins. He highlighted the...

Tories agree industry should face threat of intervention

14-Apr-2010 By James Wilmore

The Tories have said they "support the idea" the industry should face the threat of government intervention if its fails to self-regulate by June...

Conservatives back action on beer tie

13-Apr-2010 By Ewan Turney

The Conservatives have backed calls for pubcos and brewers to offer tenants a free of tie option by June 2011 or face statutory regulation. The news...

Pub Bitch: No beating around the bush

26-Mar-2010

No beating around the bush The following reminds me of the old saying that begins with the line "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone…"...

Tories stoke rumours of licensing shake-up

18-Mar-2010 By John Harrington

The Conservatives want to "rationalise" the number of Government departments dealing with pubs — adding weight to rumours they'd put the Home...

Bitter bother for Tory MP at Wetherspoons

10-Mar-2010 By Gemma McKenna

A Tory MP had half a pint of bitter thrown over her during a constituency meeting held in a pub in North Yorkshire. Anne McIntosh, a shadow minister...

Trade fears Tory plans will hit pubs

07-Oct-2009 By John Harrington

Trade chiefs fear the Conservative Party's hard-line plans for alcohol and licensing will mean more pub closures and penalise responsible operators....

Tories promise to "sweep away" red tape

07-Oct-2009 By James Wilmore

Shadow Business Secretary Ken Clarke has promised the Tories would "sweep away" the excessive amount of red tape businesses face and introduce a "one...

Save the Pub message hits every delegate at Tory conference

05-Oct-2009 By James Wilmore

The plight of the British pub will be uppermost in delegates' minds at this week's Conservative Party conference thanks to a 'Save the Pub' message...

Brown's clampdown is nothing new, admits Home Office

29-Sep-2009 By James Wilmore

The Home Office has admitted that powers already exist within the Licensing Act to restrict and review 24-hour licences, despite Gordon Brown...

MP calls on Cameron to address the tie

24-Feb-2009

Publican columnist Greg Mulholland MP has urged David Cameron to address the power of the pubcos in his party's new campaignIn a move that has been...

Tory campaign to save the pub

20-Feb-2009 By John Harrington

The Conservative Party has launched a campaign to save the pub. A new petition on the party's website calls for: • Cutting taxes on lower-alcohol...

Cameron: scrap higher business rates plan for pubs

12-Jan-2009 By John Harrington

Conservative Party leader David Cameron is backing calls for the Government to scrap plans that could mean higher business rates for pubs. Cameron...

Pubs and bars 'flouting' code of conduct

21-Jul-2008

Bars and nightclubs are ignoring the on-trade's voluntary code of practice as well as routinely breaching the law, according to a leaked report by...

ADZs finally set to be given green light

13-May-2008 By James Wilmore

Alcohol disorder zones (ADZs) are expected to be given the go ahead today despite fierce opposition from MPs. The regualtions are set to be "nodded...

Tories' three-strikes underage sales plan

06-Mar-2008 By John Harrington john.harrington@william-reed.co.u

The Conservative Party wants a "three strikes and you're out" rule for underage booze sales and a ban on selling alcohol below cost price. The Tories...

Tories call for ban on alcohol loss-leading

28-Feb-2008 By James Wilmore

A ban on the below-cost selling of alcohol is one of a series of tough proposals announced by the Conservative Party today to tackle underage...

Tories talk tough on underage sales and cheap booze

28-Feb-2008 By John Harrington

The Conservative Party wants a "three strikes and you're out" rule for underage booze sales and a ban on selling alcohol below cost price. A...

MyShout

18-Oct-2007

The delay of the general election carries mixed implications for the trade, says John Grogan MP My late father's political hero Harold Wilson's...

Tories promise red-tape cuts

16-Aug-2007

A senior Conservative MP has assured licensees he will slash red-tape for pubs if his party is elected. In an exclusive interview with The Publican,...

BarTalk

01-Aug-2007

Who do you prefer: Gordon Brown or David Cameron? Suzie Dreja Royal Oak Southampton Hampshire I'm a Conservative at heart but after the Hug a Hoody...

Towns becoming "no-go areas" after dark

24-Jul-2007 By James Wilmore

City and town centres are becoming "no-go areas" after dark partly due to "drunken skylarking", the chairman of an influential committee of MPs has...

Industry slams Tory alcohol price hike proposals

09-Jul-2007

Industry leaders have slammed proposals by the Conservative Party to increase the price of alcohol to fight binge-drinking. The Conservative Party is...

Michael Howard is Proud of Pubs

14-Jun-2007

The former leader of the Conservatives Michael Howard is the latest big name to throw his weight behind Proud of Pubs Week. The MP for Folkestone...

Blears and Reid support Pubwatch

16-Nov-2006 By John Harrington john.harrington@william-reed.co.u

Home Secretary John Reid and Labour Party chairwoman Hazel Blears have vowed to speak up in support of Pubwatch groups. They pledged support when...

Smoke protest planned for Labour conference

14-Sep-2006

A bar owner heading an anti-smoke ban political party is planning a massive anti-ban protest at this month's Labour Party Conference in Manchester....

What the Sunday papers said

19-Jun-2006 By Hamish Champ

The Conservative party has called for the scrapping of the government's proposed identity card scheme and said it would use the money saved to build...

Plea for Blears to dump 'daft' ADZs

01-Sep-2005

Eleven trade bodies unite to call for an end to the Home Office's plans for the 'unworkable zones by John Harrington Trade bodies have written a...