UKIP sets out pro-pub manifesto

A promise to investigate the beer tie, cut duty on beer and allow licensees to decide on their own smoking policy ­— that's the pub manifesto produced by the UK Independence Party (UKIP).

UKIP said it was "deeply concerned" about the loss of so many of Britain's pubs and set out a 10-point action plan to save the pub and a further separate manifesto on providing a more flexible smoking ban.

UKIP said it would:

• Cut duty on draught beer.

• Investigate the beer tie and supermarket pricing through a Royal Commission into beer pricing.

• Cut business rates and taxes on community pubs.

• Reduce red tape.

• Help finance a national rollout of the Pub is the Hub initiative.

• Alter planning laws to help safeguard pubs.

• Support licensees through tougher policing and sentencing.

• Remove local authorities from the licensing process and return it to magistrates.

• Allow a deduction in the minimum wage to take into account live-in benefit of staff.

• Work with Sky to reduce subscription rates.

Smoking ban​

UKIP said that while it "did not like prohibitions and bans in general" it did recognise that the ban had been popular with some groups but said it did believe the smoking ban should be more flexible.

It would allow the licensee to decide on the pub's policy — allowing a properly ventilated separate room for smokers or allowing the host to designate their pub as either smoking or non-smoking, if there were no separate rooms.

It also said it would support the use of patio heaters in outside areas.