Dr Phillip Lee, Conservative MP for Bracknell, has already visited five pubs as part of the MPs in Pubs campaign, which was initiated in 2011 by All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group chairman Andrew Griffiths MP.
The campaign, which is backed by the Publican’s Morning Advertiser, aims to put MPs behind the bar of their local pub so they can get a first-hand impression of the trade and discuss key issues with licensees and pub customers.
Over 50 MPs have already got behind the bar in support of the campaign and Lee is hopeful that it could eventually lead to a positive outcome for pubs.
He said: “I think what will happen is that the higher up these MPs are in Government, the more pub-friendly the policies will become, but it will be a long haul.”
Commenting on his own participation in the scheme, Lee added: “The reception I have received has been quite interesting. I don’t think punters expect their MP to be behind the bar.
“It is all part of the whole manner in which I choose to interact with the community. I don’t do formal MP surgeries, which is quite unusual, but I get a much more positive response from getting out there and meeting my constituents. It also gives the pubs some publicity.”
Lee believes that the pub industry is suffering as a result of supermarkets selling alcohol at a significantly lower price than it is sold in the on-trade.
“I would advocate putting more tax on alcohol coming out of supermarkets, but apparently EU law prevents us discriminating against supermarkets in favour of pubs,” he said.