Fair Pint is "having an influence", says ex-minister

By James Wilmore

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Fair pint

A former government minister has heaped praise on the Fair Pint campaign saying it is "having an influence" and "clearly annoying people". Labour MP...

A former government minister has heaped praise on the Fair Pint campaign saying it is "having an influence" and "clearly annoying people".

Labour MP Kate Hoey, a former sports minister, also encouraged disgruntled tenants to speak to their customers about the issues with their pubco.

"I'd like to praise the campaign (Fair Pint), they have done really well," she said. "I'm now getting letters from Enterprise and Punch saying you must meet us. The campaign is having an influence."

She added: "Don't forget your customers are the people who will most influence your MP."

Hoey was speaking at an event yesterday organised by Fair Pint member Simon Clarke, at his pub the Eagle Ale House, in Battersea, South London.

Other local Labour MPs transport minister Sadiq Kahn and Martin Linton were also present.

Khan echoed Hoey's call for licensees to speak to their customers about the gripes with their landlord. "You should present it as a consumer versus producer battle… you need to make it so it's easy to explain to ordinary punters," he said.

He also suggested the government and the Business and Enterprise Committee were hoping that CAMRA's super-complaint on the beer tie "bears fruit".

Linton said he hoped the Competition Commission "gets its teeth" into the pubcos.

But he added: "The reason BEC did not recommend an abolition of the tie is because of the law of unintended consequences. Remember the Beer Orders led to the creation of the pubcos."

Earlier, speaking to an audience which included around a dozen licensees, Clarke, a former chartered surveyor, explained the background to the pubco issue, and said: "The more people that talk to each other that's the best way, we have no chance financially against the corporate giants. Information is key."

Related topics Legislation

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