PUBS CAMPAIGN TARGETS ELECTION CANDIDATES
AS PUBLIC SUPPORT TOPS 100,000
Parliamentary candidates standing at the forthcoming General Election are being urged to pledge their support for the "I'm backing the pub" campaign - as the number of members of the public signed up passes 100,000.
The campaign - backed by the British Beer & Pub Association and SIBA, the Society of Independent Brewers - will publish the full list of candidates and their respective positions on its website, www.backthepub.com, in March.
"I'm backing the pub" was launched to promote British pubs as an essential part of British community life - and to mobilise the public in favour of action to support them.
The UK beer and pub sector employs more than half a million people, yet dozens of pubs are closing every week across the country.
Emails are being sent out to all candidates of the three main national political parties, and of the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru. The 100,000 public supporters will also be urged to contact candidates in their particular constituencies.
Launching this stepping up of the "I'm backing the pub" campaign, Brigid Simmonds, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said:
"The British people value British pubs. More than eight out of ten believe their local is an important part of community life, yet dozens of pubs are closing every week.
"More needs to be done to support this essential British institution and the General Election is a unique opportunity for candidates of all parties to tell voters how they will do so.
"We are therefore asking all candidates to join 100,000 supporters and pledge their support for our "I'm backing the pub" campaign - and we will publish the list of those who do and those who don't."
Julian Grocock, Chief Executive of SIBA, said:
"Pubs are an integral part of Britain's rich culture, our national heritage, and community life - and beer has always been a key part of what makes pubs so special.
"Our national drink is a particularly British product using home-grown ingredients and employing thousands of people across the country. Its relatively low strength reinforces its role in making the British pub a socially valuable institution which deserves widespread support."