Grogan: Fair Pint needs 'case studies'

By John Harrington

- Last updated on GMT

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Grogan: Fair Pint needs 'case studies'
MP John Grogan says campaign needs concrete case studies to achieve its aim

The anti-pubco Fair Pint campaign must produce "concrete case studies"​ to achieve its aim — that's the view of All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group chairman John Grogan.

He said powerful groups like pubcos "deserve to have the spotlight shone on them from time to time"​.

Fair Pint, launched in Westminster last week, wants the tie removed from pubco pubs and the voluntary recommendations of the 2004 Trade & Industry Select Committee report into pubcos made mandatory.

Writing in this week's MA, Grogan said there "seems to be a lack of statistical evidence"​ supporting claims that the tie is the main reason for pub closures.

He pointed to figures quoted by the British Beer & Pub Association that managed and free-trade pubs appear to be closing faster than leased and tenanted sites.

"If the Fair Pint campaign is to bring results it needs to produce more concrete case studies (if necessary maintaining confidentiality) and concentrate on persuading the new Business & Enterprise Select Committee that it should follow the advice of its predecessor committee and, in this Parliament, review the implementation of the 2004 recommendations.

"Those who have significant corporate power in our society like pubcos deserve to have the spotlight shone on them from time to time.

"For example, it was right last year that Punch had to publicly justify why it had the biggest pay gap between the boardroom and the shop floor of all FTSE 100 companies.

"It is crucial, though, that the spotlight is sharp and clear rather than blurry and distorted."

• Read Grogan's column: Grogan: Spotlight on pubcos needs to be focused​.

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