Brandon Lewis MP confirmed as community pubs minister

Conservative MP Lewis has confirmed he is to take over the role as part of his remit as parliamentary under secretary of state in the Department of Communities and Local Government.

He has taken on the role from  Bob Neill who was removed in the Government reshuffle last week.

The Government appointed Bob Neill as minister responsible for community pubs in October 2010 after pressure from the Campaign from Real Ale for a designated minister.

Lewis is a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group (APPBG) and has supported the pub trade by doing a  shift behind the bar as part of the "MPs in pubs" campaign.

Brigid Simmonds,  Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said:  “I welcome Brandon Lewis to this post and hope to meet him soon. He has a good track record supporting small businesses.
 
“There has never been a greater need for a pubs champion in the Government. We will certainly be pressing the case for action on range of fronts, not least of which is for the Pubs Minister to champion a freeze in beer duty within the Government and to keep moving forward on cutting red tape for pubs.”