Support builds for MP's pub campaign group
Pub supporting MP Greg Mulholland has already received "hundreds" of emails from licensees "up and down the country" in response to his Save the Pub campaign group.
Seventy-four MPs and peers, across five different parties, have also joined the newly-formed parliamentary group, the LibDem MP said.
Mulholland told The Publican the group had received an "extremely positive response", adding: "I hope the government will finally begin to listen to the industry and realise the damage their duty rises have been doing".
The All-Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group is also urging the government to look at supermarket beer pricing and wants a "reform" of the beer tie.
"The way the tie is now skewed in favour of some of the pubcos and against licensees is outrageous," he said.
He also criticised the practice of some pubcos of placing restrictive covenants on "pubs that should not close".
"A lot of the pubs could be viable in the right hands," Mulholland said.
Asked how the group would fit with the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, Mulholland said: "We have different roles. We are primarily a campaigning organisation focussed on trying to save the British pub at this difficult time.
"The Beer Group has a wider remit and a social function with its dinner every year."
The group's first official meeting is due to take place in the next few weeks.
Meanwhile six MPs have so far signed a parliamentary Early Day Motion , launched yesterday, backing the campaign.
To contact Greg Mulholland email info@gregmulholland.org
