Jackie is backing a move to change the law and give publicans renting from big pub chains a fairer deal.

Alongside Liberal Democrat MP Greg Mulholland, Jackie is supporting the longstanding campaign group Fair Deal for Your Local which is campaigning against pub companies that exploit hardworking licensees and take an unfair share of pub profits.

The campaign group has requested a new clause to be written into the Small Business Bill which would stop large pub companies charging hugely inflated prices and excessive rents to their tenants. The clause would mean that publicans tied by companies that own more than 500 pubs across the country could opt for a rental only deal, allowing them to buy beer and soft drinks on the open market.

There is to be a vote on the new legislation on Tuesday 18th November, in which 212 MPs are expected to vote in favour. The campaign has also been backed by ten leading national organisations, including CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale), the Federation of Small Businesses, the Forum for Private Business licensee organisations and trade unions.

Jackie says,”The Fair Deal for Your Local campaign calls for an important change to improve the relationship between pub-owning companies and their tenants. I have discussed this with popular local landlords like Karen at the Chestnut Horse, Easton, and Ashley and Rich at the Plough in Itchen Abbas.
Unfortunately, our pubs are struggling to keep up with the high rents and high beer and soft drink prices being charged by the big pub companies and there are many others that are at risk of closing down as a result. Changing the law will ensure our local pubs are given a fighting chance of survival so that they can continue to play an integral role in the community.”