Former Save the Pub Group vice-chair Brian Binley, Conservative MP for Northampton South, is an outspoken supporter of a statutory code to govern the relationship between pubcos and their tenants.
Save the Pub Group chair Greg Mulholland MP paid tribute to Labour Peer Lord Bilston, who died aged 71 on 25 February 2014, and held a one minute’s silence in his memory at the beginning of the AGM last Wednesday (12 March). He said Binley is a “very worthy successor” to Lord Bilston.
Mulholland said: “I am delighted that Brian Binley has been elected as the new President of the Group. He has a long track record in supporting the Great British pub and hardworking publicans as well as being a founding officer.”
Mulholland will remain as chair of the Group and Caroline Nokes (Con, Romsey and Southampton North) has joined Grahame Morris (Lab, Easington) as vice chair to replace Binley.
'Great new addition'
Mulholland added: “Caroline has been proactive in campaigning against pub closures, for lower beer duty and in highlighting the unfairness of the pubco tie and is a great new addition to the team. I look forward to another successful year campaigning with Brian, Grahame and Caroline to preserve and promote the Great British pub".
There are now more than 130 members and peers in the Group.
Binley said: “I'm delighted to be elected President of the Save the Pubs Group which allows me to continue to work with Greg Mulholland to fight to retain a vital social resource which helps to define Britain's uniqueness.
“Britain’s pubs are under massive threat from the unsustainable financial structure of the large pubco's and Vince Cable must respond positively to the BIS Select Committee's proposals if we are to help landlords achieve that objective.”