General Election
Exclusive: Prime minister defends pubs record
When the Conservatives came to power in 2010, Cameron promised that his would be the most pro-pub government ever.
And in an exclusive interview with the Publican’s Morning Advertiser, the PM has pointed to the help given to pubs by cutting alcohol duties, business rates and employment costs, as well as reducing income tax for working people, as evidence of his pro-pub credentials.
He also vowed to continue the support and “remain on the side of Britain’s publicans” if the Conservatives are back in power after next week’s general election.
“I promise to carry on backing publicans by continuing the plan that’s turning Britain around. Some politicians may think that just being photographed propping up a bar means they are behind the pub trade. We have actually put our money where our mouth is and proven our support — and we will do so again,” he said.
'Pub-friendly'
The Conservatives emerged as the clear winner among licensees surveyed as part of the PMA’s election survey. Four in 10 said they intended to vote for the party, with respondents rating Cameron as the party leader who would be the best PM. However more than half said they didn’t feel that, overall, the Government had been ‘pub-friendly’ over the past five years.
Earlier this month, the PMA revealed that the Conservatives would freeze the cost of a premises licence for smaller pubs, as well as setting up a loan fund to help support communities looking to take over their local pub.
“We will carry on backing business in every way we can, and will look at further ways of cutting unnecessary red tape for pubs and small businesses,” Cameron said.
He also promised to retain the role of community pubs minister in any future Conservative government, insisting that the person in post could “lead the charge” when it came to securing further governmental support for the trade.
'Pub-love'
Cameron insisted “there is much to love” about pubs and that he and his family were keen pub-goers. “I love the atmosphere, whether it’s looking out over the sea at my favourite Cornish pubs or watching the children run around the beer garden at my local – even if I have been known to leave them there on occasion.”
Analysis produced for the British Beer & Pub Association, revealed at the PMA’s Beer Innovation Summit last week, shows that there is only an 18% probability of the Conservatives participating in the next government, with Labour most likely to be the largest party.
