Mulholland welcomes action to loosen pubcos' 'grip' on tenants

Pub campaigning MP Greg Mulholland says he is "delighted" and claimed the "game is up for unscrupulous pubcos" following John Healey's package of proposals to help the industry.

Healey has today unveiled a 12-point plan - which includes forcing pubcos to offer a free-of-tie option for tenants and the chance of having a guest beer, if they remain tied.

Mulholland, chairman of the All-Party Save the Pub group, said: "At last we are getting an independent review of pub ownership and at last we can see action to loosen the vice like grip that the huge pub owning companies have over our locals and the tenants who run them."

He added: "So the game is up for unscrupulous pubcos who have exploited their power and treated our pubs as no little more than squares on a monopoly board.

"This is a big step towards giving the pub back to the British people."

Another campaigner Inez Ward, of the group Justice for Licensees, also welcomed the announcement.

"The pubcos must play their part in embracing this much needed change," she said.

"If they do, we remain quietly confident that this sector will emerge stronger, more united and a much improved version of its former self."

However trade union Unite sounded a note of caution on the proposals, saying there was still "much to be done".

But president Paul Naylor added: "This is an excellent start and represents a well thought out strategy to support community pubs and provide the impetus for us to move forward positively."