Bill Esterson MP, Labour’s Shadow Pubs Minister, commenting on delays to the Pubs Code, said:

“The delays to the Pubs Code are the latest in a long run of cock ups by BIS under the Conservatives. Pub tenants have been promised a level playing field and the prospect of the option of Market Rent Only, so that a tied pub tenant is no worse off than if they were free of tie.

“Yet again tenants have been let down as the pub companies are denying them a fair deal, all because of government incompetence.

“The government needs to make sure that all put tenants whose tenancy is up for renewal are given the option of Market Rent Only if that is what they want. And the government should make clear when the new Pubs Code is finally going to be published.

“The government has appointed a Pubs Code Adjudicator without a code to adjudicate. BIS is fast becoming the Laurel and Hardy of this accident prone government and the Pubs Code is another fine mess that they are in.”