Fresh bid to change live music laws

A fresh bid to force the government to relax the licensing laws around live music in pubs has been launched in Parliament.

Liberal Democrat peer Lord Clement-Jones last week tabled a new Live Music Bill in the House of Lords.

The private members bill had its first reading and sets out plans to offer exemptions to venues with a capacity of 200 or less and re-introduce the two-in-bar rule, where performances with just one or two people can be hosted without venues needing to apply for permission.

Clement-Jones tabled a similar bill in Parliament in July, but it lapsed at the end of the parliamentary year.

Private members bills rarely become law, but are used by backbenchers to raise an issue.

Live music campaigner Hamish Birchall has welcomed the issue going back to Parliament. "The return of Lord Clement-Jones' bill ensures that the controversy, and the government's empty promises, will be exposed again in Parliament and in the press," he said.

Last month the government announced it would consult on offering exemptions to venues with a capacity of 100 or less.

A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesman told The Publican​ this consultation will be published "before Christmas".

The government has not ruled out the possibility of extending the exemption to 200, depending on the results of the 12-week public consultation.

However any decision as a result of the consultation will have to be agreed by Parliament before it becomes law.

But there are also plans to give the authorities the power to revoke exemptions if there are problems at individual pubs.

The Publican​ is campaigning to get the government to relax the licensing laws around live music through its Listen Up! ​ initiative. To join our Facebook group click here​