Mulholland: Lees-Jones 'attack' is 'silly'

Pro-pub MP Greg Mulholland has branded William Lees-Jones' "attack" on MPs as "silly and unhelpful".

The JW Lees chief executive yesterday mounted a defence of using restrictive covenants in pub sales and said that MPs "don't really know what they're talking about".

It came as three regional brewers, in their updated codes of practice for tenants, refused to rule out applying for the measure, which forces change of use when pubs are sold.

Last year's report from the Business and Enterprise Committee (BEC) said restrictive covenants should be banned and Punch and Enterprise Inns have vowed not to use them.

Lees-Jones added: "[MPs] don't realise that we have a situation of over-supply, so it doesn't matter what we get for that pub, it's good business for the pub industry to have one less pub."

Mulholland responded: "It is silly and unhelpful and he should show a bit more maturity.

"His comments are also not only an attempt to be patronising but actually factually wrong. The MPs who are leading the fight in Parliament against restrictive covenants both understand the issues and regularly go to the pub. I would put money on it that I visit more pubs that Mr Lees-Jones.

"The fact is that restrictive covenants often steal pubs from communities despite local opposition, simply to suit the commercial interests of the pub owning company. If, as is often the case, another company or individual want to take on and try to make a success of that pub, it is quite wrong for one company to prevent that, simply to try to get those customers to use another of their pubs up the road.

"The Save the Pub Group will not stop until this unacceptable and self interested practice is outlawed."