MPs back Wolves in fight against Pubmaster
MPs have joined the battle over the future of Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries (W&DB), warning that Banks's beer could be at threat because of its proposed takeover.
Wolverhampton South West MP Rob Marris has filed an early day motion (EDM) expressing concern over Pubmaster's hostile offer for the company.
The EDM has already been backed by another 16 backbench MPs, including former sports minister Tony Banks and leading Tory parliamentarian Nicholas Winterton.
Mr Marris' EDM said he feared that the takeover of W&DB posed "a considerable threat" to the future of Banks's 126-year-old Park Brewery in Wolverhampton.
He said: "Banks's beers are much cherished locally as locally brewed ales catering for local taste, which are part of the cultural heritage of the city.
"Any attempt to brew Banks's elsewhere would be unacceptable to local drinkers."
He said the closure of Banks's "would be a considerable blow to the employees of the brewery and to the general economic and social well-being of the West Midlands community".
EDMs are an expression of backbench opinion and have little chance of being debated.
It follows calls by the Campaign for Real Ale for the deal to be referred to the Office of Fair Trading. The group claims that it would damage consumer choice and threaten the quality of W&DB's ales, which also include Marston's Pedigree.
Pubmaster, which is a focused tenanted pub operator, has said that it has buyers lined up for Banks's and W&DB's other three breweries if its takeover is accepted.
It has raised its offer from £453m to £485m, which has prompted W&DB investors with stakes totalling nearly 17 per cent to give their backing. The deadline for acceptances is 1pm on Monday August 13.
Related stories:
Ex-Mansfield boss confirms bid for Wolves brewery (August 2, 2001)
Call for OFT to stop Wolves takeover (July 31, 2001)
