Statutory code: Fair Deal for Your Local publishes 15-point 'myth busting' report

The campaign, which is a coalition of ten organisations including the Federation of Small Businesses, the Forum of Private Business and CAMRA (The Campaign for Real Ale), supports the introduction of a statutory code and fighting for the tied landlords of large companies to have the option to pay rent-only to the pub owning company.

The report called Setting the Record Straight​ aims to debunk 15 myths around pubco reform including the argument that more pubs will close leading to job losses, a market-only rent option will lead to decreased investment in pubs and family brewers will be damaged.

The report has been sent to all MPs and will also be sent to the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS), the BIS Select Committee and individually to the relevant ministers to coincide with their return to Parliament this week.

Misinformation​

Greg Mulholland MP, coordinator of Fair Deal for Your Local and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group said: “There has been a cynical campaign of misinformation to try to stop the Government from finally doing what it should have done in 2011 and introduce much needed pubco reform.

"The hysterical claims being made about what happen if tenants had the simple option to pay a market rent are just scaremongering and are simply not backed up by evidence."

Mike Benner, CAMRA chief executive agreed, claiming pubs need proper legal protection while Clive Davenport, Federation of Small Businesses’ chairman of trade and industry said publicans should have more freedom but these “efforts are being prevented by myths peddled by the big pubcos.”

Simon Clarke of the Fair Pint campaign said: "The tactic of trying to ‘pull wool over your eyes’, seeking to demonstrate that free of tie pubs are in just as much trouble as tied, by submitting only half a story, being a perfect example."

Download the report