In the first of a regular series, CAMRA's Campaigns Team shares the work  done across Westminster, devolved parliaments and local government.

WESTMINSTER

Partial reopening of pubs and clubs in England 

Ahead of the partial reopening in April, we urged the government to clarify some key points – the ongoing uncertainty on payment processes, use of service hatches, Covid-status certification and new test and trace requirements. You can see our statement here.

Debate on support for the hospitality industry during the pandemic  

On 24 March a debate was held on support for the hospitality industry during the pandemic with more than 30 MPs taking part. Ahead of the debate, we encouraged CAMRA branches to contact their MPs and ask them to attend. The team prepared and sent a briefing to all MPs registered to speak in the debate, and live tweeted proceedings from the CAMRA Official Twitter account. After the debate, CAMRA issued a press release highlighting areas of agreement between MPs during the debate and wrote to thank all supportive MPs. 

Small Brewers Relief 

The Treasury’s consultation on proposed changes to Small Brewers Relief closed on 4 April – you can read our submission to the consultation here, and we produced a pack to help CAMRA branches respond.  

All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group  

Senior campaigns manager Ellie Hudspith gave evidence to the group's inquiry into the future of cask beer. You can see more on the inquiry here: http://beergroupinquiry.com/index.html. We also produced supplementary written evidence, which summarises the main points from the evidence session here.

The group will now produce a report with recommendations to government – we expect this to be released in the next month 

All-Party Parliamentary Pub Group – secretariat provided by CAMRA  

The All-Party Parliamentary Pub Group (APPG) is holding an inquiry into the impact of the pandemic on pubs and the communities around them. The Campaigns Team has worked with Charlotte Nichols MP (Lab, Warrington North and chair of the Pubs APPG) to produce the inquiry and branches have been provided with resources to encourage CAMRA members and licensees to take part.  

You can find out more on the new Pubs APPG website here: https://apppg.camra.org.uk/ and resources to help CAMRA branches get involved are here. 

Publicans, industry groups and consumers have until May 21 to take part.  

Early Day Motion – celebrating 50 years of the Campaign for Real Ale  

Daisy Cooper MP (Liberal Democrat, St Albans) tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) to celebrate CAMRA’s birthday. CAMRA national chairman Nik Antona and the South Hertfordshire branch have written to Daisy to thank her and we sent thank you letters to the other MPs that put their name to the EDM. 

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

Tied Pubs Bill 

Several years after it was first introduced, and following a final round of e-lobbying of MSPs from CAMRA members and the public, the Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill passed the final stage in the Scottish Parliament on 23 March, with 111 MSPs voting in favour and none against. CAMRA's response to the final vote is here. 

We will be working with the minister and MSPs in the new parliament to make sure  the code is fit for purpose and is implemented as quickly as possible to reduce the time for pub-owning businesses to game the system.

Partial reopening of pubs and clubs on the Scottish mainland

We are continuing to lobby the government to resist and lift ongoing onerous restrictions when indoor opening recommences.

Scottish Parliament election

The Scottish Parliament election was on 6 May. Members across Scotland were asked to lobby their MSP candidates to take our election pledge and to stand up for beer and pubs if elected. Our manifesto covered our key campaigning asks including implementing the Scottish Pubs Code, ongoing support to help the industry recover from the Covid pandemic and closing planning loopholes on the demolition of pubs. See it in full here. 

SENEDD CYMRU

Partial reopening of pubs and clubs in Wales 

Outdoor hospitality reopened from 26 April. We will continue to lobby the incoming Welsh government to ensure there is sufficient financial support during periods of reduced trade and restrictions on pubs and clubs. 

Senedd Cymru election

The Senedd election took place on 6 May. Members across Wales were asked to lobby their MS candidates to take our pledge and to stand up for beer and pubs if elected. Our manifesto covered our key campaigning targets including ongoing support to help the industry recover from the Covid pandemic, replacing business rates with a fairer system and improving planning protection policies for pubs. The manifesto can be found here.

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY 

Licensing legislation reforms

MLAs on the assembly’s Communities Committee are still discussing plans for long-awaited amendments to licensing legislation and what they would like to see in terms of allowing breweries to open taprooms. We are working with other MLAs to build support for long-term reform of the licensing system by ending the surrender principle’which has seen no new alcohol licences created in Northern Ireland since 1903. 

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Local elections (England)

Ahead of the local elections held in England on 6 May, we produced guidance for CAMRA branches on lobbying candidates. We coordinated letters to candidates in metro mayor elections from relevant regional directors, introducing CAMRA and our campaigning. Some positive responses have been received including requests for meetings should candidates be successful at election. We will help regional directors follow these up with successful candidates.

Planning newsletters (England)

We sent the latest in our planning newsletters to local planning authorities in England. These are regular bulletins put together by CAMRA national planning policy adviser and 2021 Campaigner of the Year Paul Ainsworth and are intended to give  departments updates and information on pubs and the planning system. The newsletters can be found here.

If any CAMRA member wants campaigning advice email the Campaigns Team – Ellie Hudspith, Paul Edgeworth and Cam Weddell on campaigns@camra.org.uk