Member

This Government want to go further to support pubs. Pubs are the cornerstone of so many communities, and they are essential to the social and cultural life of so many places across the country. I have heard clearly from Government Members just how important pubs are. I thank colleagues who have engaged constructively and privately with me on this issue in recent weeks. Whether they represent constituencies in coastal or rural communities, towns or cities, their representations have been invaluable. Their constituents should know that most of the politics that they see in the papers is not what matters; it is the conversations and the advocacy of MPs in the corridors of this place that can make the difference. In particular, my honourable friend the Member for Bournemouth East, Tom Hayes, has been a relentless advocate for businesses in his constituency, as have my honourable friends the Members for Isle of Wight West, Mr Quigley, and for Redditch, Chris Bloore. I thank my honourable friend the Member for Warrington North, Charlotte Nichols, for her engagement on this issue, in her role as chair of the all-party group on pubs.