IPC to create unified voice for pub trade

The newly formed Independent Pub Confederation (IPC) is to position itself as the trade representative body for Government to talk to about all issues affecting the pub industry.

The IPC, which held its first meeting today, includes key consumer, tenant and brewer groups such as Fair Pint, Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), Justice for Licensees and the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA). It claims to represent 25,000 licensees in total.

At its inaugural meeting, the IPC decided its remit would stretch far beyond the recommendations of the Business and Enterprise Committee into other trade issues.

It has decided to put in a joint IPC submission to the Government on the use of restrictive covenants, the mandatory alcohol code, the Budget and gaming machine tax.

"Our remit and role is to create one voice for publicans," said IPC secretary Kate Nicholls. "MPs have previously had nowhere to go but we will be addressing that democratic deficit. We are creating one voice for the trade becayuse we represent licensees, brewers and consumers."

The IPC agreed a programme of funding, where all members would contribute. "We already have sufficient funds to take forward our campaign on political, media and legal fronts," said Nicholls.

The group will select a number of working groups and each organisation will have a seat at on the executive committee, although a chairman has yet to be elected.

"We will meet as regularly as need to," said Nicholls. "Thanks to mediation, we understand each others positions and know where our views meet and overlap.

"We will now be working on producing a full manifesto."

MP and BEC chairman Peter Luff told the Morning Advertiser​ the creation of the IPC would make the job of MPs "a great deal easier".