MPs pledge to do their bit for pubs

MPs across the country have pledged to stick up for the pub after learning more about the trade during Proud of Pubs Week. On Friday, scores of...

MPs across the country have pledged to stick up for the pub after learning more about the trade during Proud of Pubs Week.

On Friday, scores of politicians pulled up stalls at bars and chatted with licensees over a pint about some of the difficulties facing the industry.

The visits were part of The Publican's Proud of Pubs Week celebrations, which ran from July 19-25.

Former Home Office minister Alan Campbell - who was involved in imposing the mandatory code - visited the Low Lights Taverns in Tynemouth, in his North Shield constituency.

The pub's manager, Pippa Frost, said: "We explained to Alan that traditional pubs support their communities, raise hundreds of thousands for charity, provide employment and are the home of responsible social drinking, but are still threatened from many directions, not least from a deluge of government red tape and supermarkets unfairly selling alcohol at below cost price."

In Burnage, Manchester, Lib Dem MP John Leech, headed to the Farmer's Arms pub.

He said: "I think it very important in these times of austerity that we do not forget great community pubs such as the Farmer's Arms."

Meanwhile, Labour's Yvonne Fovargue and Lisa Nandy joined Wigan CAMRA chairman Ken Worthington at the Caledonian Hotel in Makerfield.

During the general election campaign both MPs signed the CAMRA pledge to speak up for real ale, community pubs and consumers.

Fovargue said: "Well-run pubs are the bedrock of community life - they are part of the solution to the problem of alcohol misuse and not part of the problem.

"They deserve support and government needs to urgently look at rebalancing alcohol taxation to support pubs and reform the beer tie to deliver a fairer deal for consumers."

And Nandy added: "Wigan boasts some top class pubs which provide a vital social and leisure service to the town. As a fan of real ale I was delighted to be able to sample some of the brews on offer at the Cale."

In Lincoln, Karl McCartney MP met Kurnio pub group boss Michael Kheng at the Cloud Bar. Issues discussed included the low price of alcohol in supermarkets.

George Freeman MP visited the Feathers in Town Green Wymondham, Norfolk - stopping off as part of a tour of pubs in his constituency.

"I look forward to doing what I can in Parliament to support our local pubs," he said.

The Sun Inn in Corfton Shropshire held a range of events during Proud of Pubs Week, including a pub quiz which raised £200 for charity. On the Friday Phillip Dunne, MP for Ludlow, paid the pub a visit.

Other MPs to visit pubs included: Oliver Heald, the Crown Inn, Buntingford, Hertfordhsire; Andrew Brigden the Belper Arms, Coalville, Leicestershire; Bill Wiggin, the Grape Vaults, Leominster; Dave Anderson visited the Fox and Hounds in Coalburns, South Lanarkshire; Andrew Turner MP will visit The Old Comical Pub on the Isle of Wight.

If your MP visited your pub send your photos to news@thepublican.com