Devizes MP to champion pub and beer sector

Pubs are a fine British institution and we must do all we can to help them flourish — that's the view of a new Tory MP backing the pub and beer sector.

Claire Perry — MP for Devizes, Wiltshire the home of Wadworth — has voiced her support for the trade and looks set to become a champion of the sector in Parliament.

The mum of three spent last week visiting the Wadworth brewery, the community run Barge Inn in Pewsey and the Devizes Beer Festival.

She said Wadworth had told her about the challenges the trade faces such as falling beer consumption and "what seems to be an unfair regulatory system".

While Perry has invited Big Society minister Nick Hurd and tourism and heritage secretary John Penrose to see the good work going on at the Barge Inn.

"Pubs are a fine British institution and are extremely important to rural communities," said Perry. "We recognise the importance of these institutions in the community."

Perry has already signed up as a member of the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group and Greg Mulholland's Save the Pub Group — and is looking to make a stance on taxation of beer.

"I would like to see a freeze on beer tax as it seems to come out unfavourably at the moment," she said. "We want to tax those drinks that people get tanked up on higher."

The MP is also backing action against cheap alcohol available in supermarkets. "When you can buy a pint in the off trade for 79p and a pint on the on-trade for £2.79 that is a ridiculous discrepancy," she said. "Whether it is a ban on below cost selling or a price per unit, something has to be done."

On the beer tie and pubco situation, Perry said she did not believe the situation was "always bad" but warned contracts "must not be abused".

And she stressed that irresponsible and badly run venues would face closure under new proposed powers for local authorities.

All about the people​

Her ideal pub is one where she can take her children, can catch up with friends and serves decent food. "You want ham, egg and chips but you want local ham, free range eggs and chips — not frozen beef bourguignon. There are still too many places doing that."

She is a firm advocate that it is the personality of the licensee that makes or breaks a pub but also tells a cautionary tale from during her election campaign.

"While I was out canvassing in my Land Rover, I stopped at a pub as I needed the toilet. When I came out and there was no-one around so I went to find the landlord.

"He said 'what are you doing here?' I explained and he said next time I'll set the dogs on you. That's one pub I won't be spending my time in. And they call it the hospitality industry?"