MP aims to force big pubcos to relax beer tie

A Liberal Democrat MP is set to increase the pressure on the government to legislate on the beer tie with the tabling of a parliamentary Bill tomorrow.

Martin Horwood, MP for Cheltenham, will introduce his "Tied Public House (code of practice) Bill" in Parliament calling for pubcos, with more than 500 pubs, to offer tenants a guest beer and free-of-tie option.

However, the Bill is a 10-minute rule Bill, a type of private members' Bill which rarely become law.

The Bill is being co-sponsored by 11 MPs, including Lib Dem Greg Mulholland and Green Party leader Caroline Lucas.

Mulholland, chairman of the All-Party Save the Pub group, said the group would be backing the Bill in Parliament.

"It is increasingly clear that codes of practice are not going to be delivered by the pub companies voluntarily," he added.

"If this is the case the government will need to intervene and implement a statutory code of conduct that includes this. That way many more tied tenants are able to make a living and this would enable many pubs that are currently threatened by the all too common, unfair business model that many companies employ, to thrive once again."

Meanwhile, MPs on the Business Innovation and Skills committee are due to reconvene this summer to investigate whether the pubcos have reformed their behaviour.

Check thepublican.com tomorrow for news on the Bill.