Ken Livingstone attacks pubcos with launch of pub campaign

Former London mayor Ken Livingstone has launched a campaign to help save the capital's pubs, laying the blame largely at the feet of pubcos for widespread closures.

Backed by the GMB trade union, Livingstone, who hopes to be re-elected Mayor in 2012, has published a policy document outlining the ways he would help address the problems pubs face.

A significant chunk of the document focuses on the relationship between pubcos and their licensees.

He claims many London pubs have "fallen victim to the unanticipated consequences of Margaret Thatcher's decision to break the monopoly of the breweries in the pub industry in the 1980s".

"In many parts of London landlords are being forced to call last orders for the last time not because their customers have deserted them, but because the pubco business model means they just can't make enough money to survive in business," says Livingstone.

As part of the campaign he also promises to:

- Work with councils to make greater use of discretionary planning powers to protect pubs from closure

- Encourage "greater community ownership of pubs".

- Press for changes in legislation to protect pubs.

Livingstone visited the Portobello Gold, in Notting Hill today, run by Fair Pint campaigner Mike Bell. Other Fair Pint members Steve Corbett and Mark Dodds were also present and Hayley Brennan, organiser of the GMB Pub campaign.

Brennan said: "The GMB are seeking permanent changes to safeguard the future of the Great British Pub and the jobs and communities they support.

'Our primary objective is to address the abuse and exploitation suffered by tied tenants at the hands of property owning companies."

In his policy document, Livingstone said he will be making his pub campaign a "key element" in his bid to be selected as London's Mayor in 2012.

Labour leader hopeful David Miliband also lauched a campaign to save pubs last week.