Pubs campaign targets election candidates

2nd February 2010, 9:20am

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.

The scheme 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.

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 the scheme, 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."

Julian Grocock, chief executive of SIBA, added: "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."

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