Licensees urged to take action on foot-and-mouth compensation

Licensees who suffered financially as a result of foot-and-mouth disease are being urged to join a group action against the Government.

The legal action, which is expected to top £5bn, has been launched by the United Kingdom Rural Business Campaign (UKRBC).

So far it has attracted a large amount of interest, with licensees from all over the country getting involved, and the UKRBC is keen to encourage every licensee who suffered to get behind the campaign.

Lawyers acting for the campaign claim the Government acted unlawfully when it compensated farmers for the effects of the disease but did not compensate affected licensees similarly.

They also claim that in closing roads and effectively shutting the countryside, which led to the biggest financial loss for pubs, the Government was also acting illegally.

The UKRBC has been travelling the length and breadth of Britain visiting licensees and encouraging them to join the action and has been talking to pub groups about the possibility of them getting involved.

Class Law, the lawyers acting for the UKRBC, believes rural businesses have a good chance of winning the case.

"We believe there is a good prospect of ultimate success and while of course there are no guarantees, we also believe that if we move swiftly and collectively there is a very real prospect of the Government offering to settle the case before it goes to court," a spokesman for the company said.

The writ for the group action is due to be issued at the High Court in the next few weeks.

For more information visit www.ukrbc.co.uk.