Pub week highlighted

Paul Nuttall

The need for the Government to intervene to save the pub industry has been stressed by MEP Paul Nuttall.

On a fact finding visit to pubs across the region to highlight British Pub Week, Mr Nuttall, Euro-MP for UKIP, said: "It was good to see that some establishments have loyal regulars and clearly play an important role in their local communities.

"But so many other pubs up are struggling and many have closed and gone forever. Pubs have traditionally been at the heart of communities and it is a tragedy when they are lost.

"UKIP is the only major political party fighting to try to halt the decline and British Pub Week, which runs from October 27 - November 6, is helping highlight the need for urgent action to be taken," he said.

"There is no simple answer but it is certainly time to re-think the smoking ban which has taken 20 per cent off pub takings.”

"Across Northern Europe common sense is prevailing and pubs and restaurants are now allowed to provide a separate smoking room. This is exactly what should be happening here, it would make such a difference," said Mr Nuttall.

“I also think the campaign to take VAT down to 5 per cent in pubs would actually help government revenue, not hurt it because closed pubs pay no tax at all.

"And there is no doubt that supermarkets have played a role in the demise of pubs. We want the government to get supermarkets round the table and ask them to play fairly," he said.