Lib Dem leader slams "unfair" pubco model

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has attacked the pubco model, saying it's unfair and there's "clearly a problem" as some companies do not have their hearts in the pub trade.

In an exclusive face-to-face interview with The Publican​, Clegg says he has spoken personally to licensees who feel their hands are tied.

"They (licensees) want more freedom to buy beer from where they want, to run their business how they want, and not to be hammered by high rents imposed upon them by companies who don't seem to have their hearts in the pub trade and basically use it as a cash cow," he said.

"I'm an old-fashioned liberal. I believe in competition. I don't like the big guys beating up the little guys."

Clegg also revealed his backing for his Lib Dem colleague Greg Mulholland, an outspoken critic of the big pubcos. "I'm immensely pleased with the work he's doing and I think he's doing it in a way that is great benefit to pubs up and down the country," he said.

In the frank and wide-ranging interview, Clegg also criticises the government for failing to deal with supermarkets selling alcohol below cost.

"The problem is epidemic and the government is behaving like a political ostrich and just sticking its head in the sand and pretending this isn't an issue," he said.

The 42 year-old MP also reveals his continued support for the idea of minimum pricing and says in other areas of economic policy selling something as a loss leader, would be illegal.

He was also on message with the trade's fight over duty hikes.

Clegg says he was "staunchly opposed" to the eight per cent hike in last year's mini Budget and argues that successive Chancellors have used alcohol duty as "an easy target to fill a black hole in the Treasury coffers".