Business Secretary Peter Kyle threw his weight behind the nation’s boozers, which were already struggling with rising costs before the turmoil triggered by the Iran war
Pubs must be able to thrive, the Business Secretary has said(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The Business Secretary has said he wants to see pubs thrive – and said Britain needs to have some fun.
Peter Kyle threw his weight behind the nation’s boozers, which were already struggling with rising costs before the turmoil triggered by the Iran war. In January, the Government announced business rates for pubs in England will be cut by 15% from this month then frozen for the following two years after a furious backlash from the industry.
But the aid package was branded a sticking plaster by some publicans, who have called on ministers to go further. The Mirror is fighting to save Britain’s much-loved boozers through the long-running Your Pub Needs You campaign.
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Business Secretary Peter Kyle with the Mirror’s Political Editor Lizzy Buchan(Image: Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
Asked for his message to pubs, Mr Kyle said: “I’m in this to deliver economic growth, to deliver prosperity, and to make sure that hard work pays, whether you’re a pub owner or whether you’re working in a car manufacturing plant.
“So I want to see our hospitality [sector, I want to see our pub sector thrive, and also I want Britain to have a good time. I want Britain to have some fun. I don’t want Britain to have to wait until the World Cup, until we have a laugh as a nation.”
He went on: “I think we’ve we’ve got ourselves stuck in a rut because of the decline of austerity, followed by Covid, followed by the mini-Budget that just ripped the heart out of any optimism that people had that things could get better in our country.
“I know that people need to feel more connected to the positive change that we are striving to deliver.
“But I see the foundations being built, and I know that it is within our grasp, and what pubs need more than anything else are customers with money in their pockets who are bringing their family and friends in to buy pints and glasses of wine for and whatever nibbles they’re serving behind the bar. That is first and foremost what will deliver the renaissance that our pubs need.”
Mr Kyle said he had “jumped to attention” when challenges emerged since becoming Business Secretary last year.
He added: “I’ll be striving as hard as I can, because I want them to survive as businesses, but also those are the businesses that allow people to go and have some fun, and I sense a country that deserves to have a bit more fun.”