BBC to film pubco protest

BBC TV show Inside Out is to film events at the pubco protest march on 7 December.

Producers are looking for licensees from the Liverpool, Manchester, Lancashire, Cumbria and Cheshire areas to film on the day.

The protest, led by Inez Ward's Justice for Licensees group, is expected to attract in excess of 300 people.

The event takes place the day before the Business Innovation and Skills Committee meet to scrutinise the steps taken by the trade in response to the summer's Business and Enterprise Committee report.

The latest group to join the march is Freedom2Choose, which was heavily involved in campaigning against the smoking ban.

It supports a freedom of choice in regard to leases and the beer tie and a reference to the Competition Commission.

"We are pleased to be working closely with Justice for Licensees as it is quite obvious that since July, 2007 the pub trade has completely nosedived," said Phil Johnson of Freedom2Choose.

"Had the licensees been afforded freedom of choice, on multiple issues including the beer tie, we would not have witnessed the ensuing carnage within our hospitality sector."

Ward added: "It is imperative that this government take immediate action, the pubcos have failed miserably in self-regulation for a number of years, hence the findings of the Business and Enterprise Committee report into pubcos.

"All MPs should support the findings of the Select Committee.