Labour is forcing a Parliamentary debate on backing local pubs, pressing the Government to act as research shows 26 pubs are closing every week.

The debate will fall one year after Vince Cable, following Labour pressure and facing a Commons defeat, hurriedly announced his intention to introduce regulation to protect publicans from being exploited by the major pub owning companies owning more than 500 pubs. But twelve months later the Government are still dithering and have failed to put in place a statutory code to back local pubs. This followed a debate in January 2012 when the House of Commons voted unanimously for a review of the self-regulation of pub companies and for a statutory code to be considered.

Toby Perkins MP, Labour’s Shadow Pubs Minister said:

“Too many pubs across Britain are closing their doors and we urgently need action but ministers are dragging their feet. A wide range of bodies from the Federation of Small Businesses, CAMRA and trade unions to the BIS Select Committee and the All Party Save the Pub Group have recognised that the relationship between the big pub companies and local landlords is an unfair one which needs to be fixed and have backed plans for a proper statutory code with teeth.

“Pubs are vital hubs in communities up and down the country. By forcing a House of Commons debate we are demanding that the Tory-led Government act to support them rather than caving in to powerful vested interests.”

Labour will hold an Opposition Day debate in the House of Commons on pub companies on Tuesday 21 January