DUNFERMLINE MP Thomas Docherty has backed a Westminster bill that will end strict rules that force pub tenants to pay higher prices for their drinks.

Mr Docherty and his Labour Party colleagues last week pledged their support for the Small Businesses Bill that calls for a statutory code to protect local pubs, and comes in light of an increasing number of complaints from landlords ‘tied’ to large companies and are struggling to make ends meet.

An independent adjudicator will enforce the ‘Statutory Code of Practice’ that will govern the relationship between large pub-owning companies and their ‘tied’ tenants, and aims to address the ‘imbalance in bargaining power between large pub-owning companies and the thousands of tenants that run tied pubs, who are often sole traders and small businesses, to ensure tenants are treated fairly by their pub-owning company’.

The legislation, which has been welcomed by pub landlords across the country, has received cross-party support and Mr Docherty commented, “It is extremely important that we protect our local pubs, which are often the centres of our communities. Many pub landlords have experienced unfair treatment from large companies and this needs to stop.

“The Small Businesses Bill being passed at this stage is a victory for local businesses. I will continue to support this bill through Parliament to protect local pubs here in Dunfermline and West Fife.”