Hughes Stands Up For Local Pubs

1.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 6th Jul 2009

Simon Hughes has spoken out in defence of traditional pubs. The Liberal Democrat MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey warned that current government policy was putting at risk traditional pubs across the country.

Speaking during a debate on the recent rise in alcohol taxes, Mr Hughes warned that "the government are strangling the industry in a way that will be detrimental to urban communities as well as rural and suburban ones."

He expressed concern for "the pubs that sell the traditional beers - the Fuller's pubs, the Young's pubs and the Shepherd Neame pubs" which are popular with local people and tourists alike. Such pubs "are certainly not better replaced by the supermarket", he concluded.

The Liberal Democrats have long been calling on the government to do more to support community pubs. Speaking after the Commons' debate, Simon Hughes reiterated this support saying that "good pubs are an asset to the communities. We must do more to support these great British institutions".