The two Brighton MPs took part in a historic vote in the House of Commons yesterday (Tuesday 18 November) which could break the tie for pub tenants.
The tie – described as “archaic” by one MP – forces pub tenants to buy their beer from the pub’s owner, usually at inflated prices.
But an amendment to the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill will give the people running pubs the right to end the arrangement.
Caroline Lucas, the Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, voted in favour of the “free market” option contained in the amendment.
The Conservative MP for Brighton Kemptown Simon Kirby, who used to run a chain of pubs, voted against it.
Although neither of the Brighton MPs spoke during the debate yesterday afternoon, Caroline Lucas criticised the arrangements in a previous debate in 2012.
She called it “a scandal” that just a handful of big companies had been allowed to dominate the pub market.
On her website she said: “Pubs are central to our communities and play a vital role in this city’s economy and tourist industry.
“But the failure of the government to call time on the damaging practices of the pubcos which dominate the market is putting all this at risk.
“The landlord of the Greys in Hanover tells me that his is the only pub that hasn’t closed and reopened in the last nine years.
“The London Unity has had three owners in two years while the Geese has changed hands four times in six years.
“In all of these, the ‘tied’ scheme was a significant factor.
“This means ruined livelihoods for the individual landlords and their families. It also means instability for our pubs and for our local economy.”
The Greys has since changed hands and the London Unity has closed for good.
The chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Tim Page said yesterday: “Today’s landmark parliamentary vote helps secure the future of pubs.
“CAMRA is delighted that, after ten years of our campaigning, MPs have today voted to introduce a market rent only option for licensees tied to the large pub companies – a move that will secure the future of the Great British pub.
The reality is that Conservatives, despite what they say, are primarily big business and not “free market”. No suprise our two local Tories backed the near bankrupt Pubcos that have helped drive a valuable slice of British life towards extinction in some areas.