Livingstone campaigns against calling time on capital’s pubs

Ken Livingstone has launched a campaign to save local pubs in London. Mr Livingstone, who is running against Oona King to become Labour candidate for Mayor of London, is calling on councils to make greater use of planning powers to protect pubs from closure; backing a campaign by the GMB for fairer treatment of pub [...]

by Tribune Web Editor
Friday, August 13th, 2010

Ken Livingstone has launched a campaign to save local pubs in London. Mr Livingstone, who is running against Oona King to become Labour candidate for Mayor of London, is calling on councils to make greater use of planning powers to protect pubs from closure; backing a campaign by the GMB for fairer treatment of pub landlords by the big pub companies; and wants to encourage more community ownership of pubs.

He said: “Pubs are at the heart of communities across London. The Mayor must do far more to support London’s pubs, lobbying the government for new legislation.”
Hayley Brennan, lead organiser for GMB pub tenants, said: “It’s a pleasure to welcome Ken’s support for London’s pubs, tenants and our campaign to alleviate the burdens forcing pubs out of business.”

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  • Clem the Gem

    Whilst agreeing that the Pub is a national institution, and part of our social fabric, it is hard to see how a London – only approach to this will work. Your heart is in the right place Ken, but your time has passed, let it go.

  • Clem the Gem

    Whilst agreeing that the Pub is a national institution, and part of our social fabric, it is hard to see how a London – only approach to this will work. Your heart is in the right place Ken, but your time has passed, let it go.

  • swatantra

    I’ll drink to that.
    The fact is that Labour’s 24 Hour flexible pub closing legislation wasn’t given a fair chance to work out before the critics started plunging their knives in. Lets end this ridiculous practice of chucking every body onto the streets at the same time fully tanked up with binge drink. Drinking should be a social and a pleasurable activity and relaxed throughout the course of the evening. not an atempt to brag how many pints you can down in a night.
    And lets break this monopoly of big brewery landlords controlling the outlets and go instead for more community pubs run locally for the locals, and the profits circulating within the community, and not to greedy shareholders.

  • swatantra

    I’ll drink to that.
    The fact is that Labour’s 24 Hour flexible pub closing legislation wasn’t given a fair chance to work out before the critics started plunging their knives in. Lets end this ridiculous practice of chucking every body onto the streets at the same time fully tanked up with binge drink. Drinking should be a social and a pleasurable activity and relaxed throughout the course of the evening. not an atempt to brag how many pints you can down in a night.
    And lets break this monopoly of big brewery landlords controlling the outlets and go instead for more community pubs run locally for the locals, and the profits circulating within the community, and not to greedy shareholders.

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