The two Brighton MPs took part in a historic vote in the House of Commons yesterday (Tuesday 18 November) which could break the tie for pub tenants.
The tie – described as “archaic” by one MP – forces pub tenants to buy their beer from the pub’s owner, usually at inflated prices.
But an amendment to the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill will give the people running pubs the right to end the arrangement.
Caroline Lucas, the Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, voted in favour of the “free market” option contained in the amendment.
The Conservative MP for Brighton Kemptown Simon Kirby, who used to run a chain of pubs, voted against it.
Although neither of the Brighton MPs spoke during the debate yesterday afternoon, Caroline Lucas criticised the arrangements in a previous debate in 2012.
She called it “a scandal” that just a handful of big companies had been allowed to dominate the pub market.
On her website she said: “Pubs are central to our communities and play a vital role in this city’s economy and tourist industry.
“But the failure of the government to call time on the damaging practices of the pubcos which dominate the market is putting all this at risk.
“The landlord of the Greys in Hanover tells me that his is the only pub that hasn’t closed and reopened in the last nine years.
“The London Unity has had three owners in two years while the Geese has changed hands four times in six years.
“In all of these, the ‘tied’ scheme was a significant factor.
“This means ruined livelihoods for the individual landlords and their families. It also means instability for our pubs and for our local economy.”
The Greys has since changed hands and the London Unity has closed for good.
The chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Tim Page said yesterday: “Today’s landmark parliamentary vote helps secure the future of pubs.
“CAMRA is delighted that, after ten years of our campaigning, MPs have today voted to introduce a market rent only option for licensees tied to the large pub companies – a move that will secure the future of the Great British pub.
“The Government was defeated by 284 votes to 269 with MPs from all parties voting in favour of a new clause to the Small Business Bill that will empower pubco licensees to choose between a tied agreement and a market rent only agreement that will allow them to buy beer on the open market.
“Allowing over 13,000 pub tenants tied to the large pub companies the option of buying beer on the open market at competitive prices will help keep pubs open and ensure the cost of a pint to consumers remains affordable.
“The large pub companies will no longer be able to charge their tenants prices up to 60p a pint higher than open market prices.
“This simple choice should spell the end of pubco licensees being forced out of business through high rents and tied product prices.
“Thank you to the 8,000 CAMRA members and campaigners who lobbied their local MP to help make this happen and to those MPs that voted to support pubs.
“CAMRA are now urging the government to accept the outcome of the vote.”
But the British Beer and Pub Association chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: “This change effectively breaks the ‘beer tie’ which has served Britain’s unique pub industry well for nearly 400 years.
“It would hugely damage investment, jobs and results in 1,400 more pubs closing, with 7,000 job losses – as the government’s own research shows.
“There are serious legal and competition issues which must be faced as it rides roughshod over what are previously agreed contracts and creates an unworkable two-tier market.
“I hope Parliament will rethink as the bill continues its progress.”
The amendment was carried at the report stage of the bill. The final stage in the Commons – the third reading – is scheduled to take place today (Wednesday 19 November).
The government may try to overturn the amendment at the third reading stage or try to overturn it when the bill is discussed by the House of Lords.
It must overcome these hurdles if the changes voted through yesterday are to become law.
The reality is that Conservatives, despite what they say, are primarily big business and not “free market”. No suprise our two local Tories backed the near bankrupt Pubcos that have helped drive a valuable slice of British life towards extinction in some areas.