Farron chairs 'Fair Pint Campaign' launch

3.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 13th May 2008

Local MP Tim Farron chaired the official launch of the Fair Pint Campaign in the House of Commons this morning. The campaign aims to secure a fairer deal for landlords from large pub chains who until now have been exploiting their position of dominance and charging excessive amounts for rent.

Many local pubs have closed due to the Pubcos abuse of their market power, some estimated put the figure at 27 pubs closing every week in Britain. Pubs in Kendal, Milnthorpe and Bowland Bridge, for example, have seen their doors closed as a result and many local communities are consequently losing their social centre.

Speaking after the launch of the campaign, Mr Farron said:

"This campaign is really beginning to gather pace now and Ministers surely can't go on ignoring the plight of pub landlords up and down the country for much longer.

"We will keep working as hard as we can to get this matter looked at by the BERR Select Committee. The situation simply cannot go on as it is, hundreds of pubs a month are closing, the tradition of the Great British pub is under threat and we must act now."