Labour confirms free-of-tie commitment
Labour has confirmed its commitment to force pubcos to offer tenants a free of tie option in its election manifesto published today.
Labour has stuck by its earlier pledge to enact a new Beer Order if pubcos and brewers do not offer tenants a free of tie option (Pubcos face new Beer Order).
It said: "A non-tie option should be available for pub tenants; we will act if the industry fails to make progress on this."
The manifesto also backs up the recent announcement made by pubs minister John Healey to set aside funding to help communities buy pubs and outlaw the use of restrictive covenants.
"The local pub and social club are also hubs of community life," it said. "Too many pubs have closed that could have been sustained by local people.
"We will support pubs that have a viable future with a new fund for community ownership in 2010-11.
"Councils must take full account of the importance of pubs to the local community when assessing proposals that change their use, and we will make it more difficult to demolish pubs.
"Restrictive covenants applied by pub companies to property sales will be curbed and flexibility for pubs to provide related services promoted, making it easier to have live entertainment without a licence."
A Fair Pint spokesman said: "This is a massive victory for the Fair Pint Campaign. The tie is now at the centre of the debate about the future of the pub sector in the UK."
GMB general secretary Paul Kenny added: "Pub customers now have an opportunity to vote to end the tie and secure a fairer deal for themselves, the pub tenants and their local communities.
"There will be husting election meetings across the country and GMB members will be asking candidates from other parties where they stand on this issue."
