MP calls on Cameron to address the tie

Publican​ columnist Greg Mulholland MP has urged David Cameron to address the power of the pubcos in his party's new campaign

In a move that has been widely approved by the industry the Tories launched a campaign to Save the British Pub last week.

Mulholland, chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group, welcomed the party's support but stressed its campaign must also address the power of the pub companies and the way the beer tie is operated.

He wrote: "What we really need to hear from the Conservative party is how it plans to rectify the unfortunate aftermath of the Beer Orders it introduced and now truly introduce competition and choice into the sector and address the current very real concerns about the supply tie.

"The current system all too often works only for huge corporations and penalises the small business people that licensees are. This is not right and must be addressed."

He also called on the party to examine the need for reforming planning law to reduce the rate of pub closures.

The letter concluded that all political parties must listen to the voice of licensees when pledging to support the industry.

"If any party is serious about supporting pubs and publicans, they must listen to licensees, pub customers and pub campaigners not just the voice of the big pub companies and breweries who unsurprisingly will only give part of the story.

"The voice of licensees still isn't heard even though they are those working in pubs are the majority of people working in this industry. It is time this changed."