Shadow business minister Toby Perkins will ‘make the case’ on beer duty

Perkins also supported action on the beer tie and the pubco/tenant relationship, and stressed that minimum pricing should not be used in a way to affect prices in pubs.

Speaking at the MA250 Business Seminar in Windsor, Perkins stressed that Labour’s tax policies have not been decided so far from the General Election.

But he said: “I will be putting the pressure on, I will be arguing the case, as to why we should look at alternative routes to raising revenue in very difficult times.

“I’m going to be making that case on behalf of Britain’s brewers and pub industry.”

He said ministers would be “loathe” to ignore the issue if it receives enough public support. He highlighted how the signature calling for a duty cut now has c.40,000 signatures, with c.100,000 needed for a debate in Parliament.

Perkins added: “My sense is there a huge number of different organisations saying the particular areas they have should be in consideration for a reduction in tax revenue.

“At the same time there’s definitely an acceptance in our party that the level of pub closures we’ve seen in the past five years we don’t want to see in the next five years.”

On the issue of the pubcos, Perkins mirrored Labour’s stance from the previous Government. He said those pubs owned by companies with more than 500 outlets should be offered both tied and free-of-tie options, combined with open market rent reviews, to end the “restrictive nature of the market as it operates now”.

He also supported calls for statutory adjudicator for the industry’s code of practice, or that for the “very least” that self-regulation be reviewed in one year’s time.

“We feel there’s still work to do before the best practice many lessees enjoy is universal,” the MP said.

“It was therefore a disappointment that despite assurances to the contrary, despite the expertise the select committee developed, despite the weight of opinion and inspite of a Parliamentary vote on the matter, the recommendations on the pub companies were over-ruled by the Government.

“Let’s be clear. Labour is not calling for an end to the beer tie. There are many responsible pub-owning companies that have a fair relationship with their tenants and lessees. We are saying is that we don’t too much of the market only available to landlords willing to take on a full repairing lease.”

Perkins appeared sympathetic to arguments for a minimum price of alcohol, but moved to allay fears that it would be the “thin end of the wedge” under Labour and could affect prices charged in pubs at some point.

“Let me be absolutely clear. The minimum unit alcohol price should be a break on irresponsible alcohol retailing. No more, and no less.”
He said Governments should have “no truck” with measures that increase costs for consumers, but questioned why supermarkets need to sell so cheaply. “If they are going to do loss leaders wouldn’t it be better to have them on vegetables or household essentials rather than alcohol?” he asked.

Perkins, who was elected MP for Chesterfield in 2010, was asked why more wasn’t done under the previous Government to help pubs.
He replied: “Personally I wasn’t in Parliament last time around and I have no problem with reflecting on things that could have been done differently.

“If people have got criticisms of what happened in the past, and recognise some of the decisions that were taken under the previous Government had a difficult impact on the pub industry, we need to be big enough to stand up and face up to that criticism.
“But all I can do in this role now is listen to you and tell you what we’re going to do in the future.”