Fair Pint vs pubcos: Battle lines drawn
A battle has begun for the hearts and minds of MPs who are calling for another inquiry into pubco power.
Anti-pubco MP Tim Farron has asked for a debate in Parliament on the conduct of pub companies and the beer tie.
He told the MA: "We are applying for a Westminster Hall debate. I would be surprised if we don't get it."
At this week's launch of the Fair Pint campaign, he said the group is "pushing at an open door for another select-committee hearing".
Fair Pint wants the tie removed from pubco pubs.
It calls for the voluntary recommendations of the 2004 Trade & Industry Select Committee (Tisc) report into pubco power, relating to how tenants are treated, to be made mandatory.
Pubco fightback
Meanwhile, pubcos are fighting back.
The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) rejects Fair Pint's claim that the tie causes pub closures.
It pointed to CGA Strategy data showing 55% of pubs closed in 2007 were freehold.
It has sent this figure to every MP who signed Farron's anti-pubco Early Day Motion (EDM).
So far, 42 have signed the EDM.
Of the others closed, 14% were leased and owned by five of the biggest pubcos, 12% were managed and 19% operated by small firms.
A BBPA spokesman said: "This shows the tied pub model to be considerably more robust than the free-trade model proposed by the campaign group and the EDM."
Fair Pint campaigner David Morgan said the figures quoted by the BBPA were "absolute rubbish".
• Fair Pint has produced an advice sheet on how breaking the tie would effect rents. You can download it here: Fair Pint: Supply free rents.
