MPs proud to sign EDM

The Proud of Pubs motion is making waves across Westminster, with MPs from all sides of the House of Commons now signing up to show their support for pubs.

More than 60 MPs have signed Early Day Motion number 2259, which calls on MPs to recognise that the vast majority of pubs have been trading responsibly since the new licensing laws were introduced last November and are a valuable asset to their communities.

Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs have all signed the motion, despite criticism of pubs before the launch of the new regime.

Among the high-profile signatories are the Liberal Democrat shadow culture secretary Don Foster and Sir Nicholas Winterton, Conservative MP for Macclesfield and chair of a number of influential committees in Parliament.

John Grogan, the Labour MP for Selby and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, tabled the motion on May 25 to mark the six-month anniverary of the new Licensing Act.

Explaining why he had signed the motion, Sir Nicholas Winterton told The Publican: "Pubs are very much part of the social fabric. We have a lot of pubs in my constituency and in my time I've visited them all.

"You can go as a stranger and you are always made to feel welcome. I'm a great supporter of people who run pubs... the new Licensing Act has increased choice for customers, as the motion says, and with the odd exception the initial results have been positive."

Lorely Burt, the Liberal Democrats' small business spokeswoman and MP for Solihull, said: "There were more complaints before the new Licensing Act came in than there have been in the past few months.

"I am absolutely supportive of the pub trade and happy to lend my support."

Joan Walley, the Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent North for 19 years, is also backing the trade. She said: "Pubs play such an important part in their communities.

"It is down to pubs to live up to the standards that have been set, and that is why I welcome the Proud of Pubs Charter."

The Conservative MP for Hemel Hempstead, Mike Penning, said that he had some "fantastic" pubs in his constituency.

"British pubs are an integral part of British society - if we are not careful they aren't going to be around for much longer," he said. "One way in which I can show my support for the pub trade is by signing a motion like this."

• Write to your MP and get them to put their name to the Proud of Pubs motion. Download a letter from www.thepublican.com/proudofpubs or ring 020 7955 3710.