A sunny motion?

The City of London is a quiet place at this time of year.

I'm quite sure deals of some sort are being plotted behind closed doors of various corporate behemoths. But even when the economy is in fine fettle pretty much bog all goes on in the Square Mile during the months of July and August, never mind when the clouds of recession steadfastly refuse to be blown away by billions of the taxpayer's hard-earned moolah.

So it is that when not contemplating a dream holiday in Antibes a City & Business editor's attention invariably swings, 16 inch naval gun-like, in the direction the activities of our members of Parliament. And particularly those with an interest in the pub and brewing sectors.

I'll admit to being faintly amused - perhaps that should be 'bemused' - by the tabling last week of a motion in the House of Commons by one Greg Mulholland, Lib Dem MP, leading light of the All-Party Parliamentary Save The Pub Group and regular columnist for this here very organ.

Mulholland wanted to raise a glass - metaphorically of course - to the nation's pubs by way of an appeal to a higher authority, One who could perhaps help out with a spot of fine weather to help boost the fortunes of licensees the length and breadth of the land.

Asking MPs to back his call for a good summer is perhaps one of the more bizarre - some might say bonkers - requests I've seen from one of our elected representatives, but his encouragement that people visit pubs as often as possible during the (hopefully) warm summer months was spot on.

Translating politicians' well-publicised enthusiasm for a few tinctures into political support for pubs was, in a 'humourous' way, what Mulholland was aiming at.

So here's hoping…