Barbara is supporting making an amendment to the Small Business Bill so that it delivers a fairer deal for local pubs in Salford.

The amendment will provide pub tenants who are tied to the large pub companies with the option of a rental only deal. This would allow the pubs to buy beer on the open market at prices up to 70% below what pub companies currently force them to pay.

Barbara and 211 other MPs have indicated support for the rental only deal. The amendment is also backed by the GMB union and the national Fair Deal for Your Local campaign which includes the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and small business organisations. MPs will vote on this amendment in Parliament on Tuesday 18th November.

The Chief Executive of CAMRA, Tim Page, has welcomed support from MPs for the amendment.

Barbara said:

“People in Salford have seen too many pubs in our local area close down. Across the UK 27 pubs close each week and we have lost at least 70 pubs from Salford. We need to make sure this is not because large pub companies currently have an unfair advantage. They can hike up their prices because they can prevent pub tenants from buying beer from other sellers.

The Conservative-led Government’s plans for pub company reform do not address this issue.  I am supporting the amendment because I believe giving pub tenants an option of these agreements with large pub companies will help local pub licensees run a successful business.

I hope this change will mean pub companies offer fairer agreements to tenants in the future.”