MPs slam the tie at Fair Pint lobby event

More than 100 publicans have gathered at Westminster to hear MPs weigh in to the pubcos with strong criticism of the tie.

The lobby at the Houses of Parliament, organised by the Fair Pint group, saw Greg Mullholland MP describe the pubcos as "morally bankrupt" over their failures to support tenants or keep struggling pubs open.

The MP, chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Save The Pub Group, said: "What is going on is politically unacceptable, economically absolute madness and morally bankrupt."

In the wake of last week's Business & Enterprise Committee report, Mulholland urged Fair Pint members to press their MPs to back the call for a competition inquiry into the pubcos.

He said: "The BEC report is a real triumph, but it's just the start - we have to push hard for the inquiry to take place."

Others addressing the meeting included David Drew, MP for Stroud, who said, who said: "I feel very strongly that the balance of power is entirely wrong here."

Trade unions GMB and Unite, as well as the Federation of Small Businesses, all spoke at the meeting to condemn the tie.

Licensees at the meeting included Steve and Patricia Bennett, who run the New Horseshoe in Lawton Heath, Cheshire on a tenancy with Punch Taverns.

Patricia said: "We run the busiest pub in the village, we're known for our real ale, but we're struggling to make a living because of the price we have to pay for beer."

The Bennetts' local MP, Ann Winterton, met with them to express her support for the campaign. "Pubs are vital to local communities," said Mrs Winterton, MP for Congleton.

Mark Dodds, licensee of the Sun and Doves pub in Camberwell and one of the founders of Fair Pint, said: "This meeting couldn't have happened a year ago because too many individual licensees were scared and intimidated by their pubcos. By uniting, we've found our voice."