Pub champion MPs celebrate election victory

Community pubs minister Kris Hopkins retained his west Yorkshire seat of Keighley with a 3,053 majority.

‘Pub champion’ Greg Mulholland, who played a key role in steering the new pub code through parliament, held on to Leeds North West for the Liberal Democrats who faced serious losses elsewhere in the country.

Beer Group chair Andrew Griffiths won by a landslide in Burton, with a majority of almost 11,000. Former shadow pub minister Toby Perkins secured a second term with a resounding win in Chesterfield.

The night was also success for Green candidate and pub supporter Caroline Lucas, who kept her Brighton Pavilion seat with a considerably increased margin.

‘Pub landlord’ Al Murray and Nigel Farage, who has rarely been pictured without a pint in hand throughout the campaign, are still waiting to hear the results for South Thanet.

Despite success for pub campaigners, the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers predicted a difficult parliament ahead, tweeting: “Although we’re waking up to a more straightforward election result than predicted future parliament will be complex with battles over all laws.”