CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) – Europe’s biggest consumer group with over 150,000 members – is calling on the Government to stick to its promise to introduce a Pubs Watchdog to prevent valued pubs from being placed at risk of closure due to unfair practices in the pub sector.

The Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council backed this call in the consultation carried out by the department of Business Secretary Dr. Vince Cable MP last year and 96% of those responding also did so. We continue to support this call today.

We need a Pubs Watchdog urgently to govern the behaviour of the large companies which own around a third of UK pubs and ensure publicans are treated fairly.

The Pubs Watchdog would ensure rents and wholesale prices are reasonable.

In a 2013 survey, 57% of publicans renting pubs from the large pub companies reported earning less than £10,000 a year.

Typically these publicans have to buy all their beer from their pub company at around 50p a pint more than if they were allowed to buy on the open market.

Publicans with the large pub companies should be given the option to buy one real ale on the open market – known as a guest beer right. They should also be given the option to choose a market rent only contract that would allow a publican to buy all of their beer on the open market from any brewer they choose.

In 2013 the Government recognised that a change in the law is needed. CAMRA is calling on the Government to stick to its clear promise by introducing a Parliamentary Bill in this year’s Queen’s Speech. A petition will be submitted to the Business Secretary on 14th May – 7 days from now.

Readers can go online to support the petition at http://www.pubscandal.org.uk/