Yorks MP leads pub victory

A YORKSHIRE MP has led an historic overhaul of the UK pub industry after a Commons vote to allow landlords to buy beer on the open market.

Greg Mulholland, MP for Leeds North West, put forward the amendment to the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill, which saw MPs voting 284 to 259 in favour of the reform which will also enable landlords to negotiate rents.

Mr Mulholland, the chairman of the all-party Parliamentary Save the Pub group, described the “tie” arrangement made between a pub and its owner as an “archaic” and “extraordinary” system.

“Tied pubs” are required to buy supplies, often at high prices, from the companies that own the pubs.

Campaigners said the “historic” vote would help “secure the future of the Great British pub”.

However, the British Beer and Pub Association said the outcome was “hugely damaging”.

Chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: “This change effectively breaks the ‘beer tie’, which has served Britain’s unique pub industry well for nearly 400 years.”