Lib Dems promise review of tie and no duty rise

March 4, 2010: The Liberal Democrats would bring in a raft of new measures to help pubs if they were in power, including a reform of the pub tie.

The plans are revealed by the party's licensing spokesman, Don Foster MP, in an interview with the trade newspaper the Morning Advertiser.

Measures would include pubs being allowed to opt out of the tie, the allowing of at least one guest beer in tied pubs, the outlawing of rent reviews and restrictive covenants, an end to the demolition of pubs without public consultation, and powers for councils to grant 50% rate relief for the last pub in a villages.

The party would also scrap planned beer duty increases.

Mr Foster said: “I have tenants who have been to see me to discuss the difficulties they are in because of their relationship with their pubco. I’ve seen pubs in my own constituency close.”

He said that while there was nothing intrinsically wrong with the tie, it is "out of control... it’s a very one-sided bargain. That’s why we want to redress the balance.”

Read the full interview on the Morning Advertiser website.