Peer vows to "keep hammering away" on pub live music

A Liberal Democrat peer has argued the government's proposed live music exemption for small pubs does not go far enough and vowed to "keep hammering away" on the issue.

Lord Clement-Jones is pushing for an exemption for venues with a capacity of 200 of fewer and for the two-in-bar rule to be re-instated, mirroing the call made by The Publican​ as part of our Listen Up! campaign.

The government last month launched a consultation to exempt gigs that attract 100 people or fewer from needing a licence.

But Clement-Jones told a meeting of the All-Party parliamentary Save the Pub Group yesterday: "We believe a 200 capacity exemption is the right way to go. A 100 exemption, we don't believe that's adequate."

The peer launched a Private Members Bill on the issue last year, which is due to have its second reading in Parliament on Friday.

He called on the government to "put its weight" behind the Bill which would help get it through Parliament before the general election - and make a "massive difference" to pubs.

But campaigners fear the government's current proposal will not become law before the election.

Clement-Jones admitted this could be the case, but vowed: "We will keep hammering away and bring it back after the election."

A member of the Save the Pub group later claimed that he had been told in private by a government official it had "got in wrong" on live music.

Live music campaigner Hamish Birchall, who also spoke at the meeting, gave hope by saying similar legislation to ease restrictions on live music had been introduced recently in New York and Australia.

He said the case for an exemption for venues with a 200 capacity was "unarguable".

To join The Publican's Listen Up! Facebook group, click here​