MP stages sit-in to save the 'Great British pub'

An MP staged a 13-hour vigil at the House of Commons during last night to highlight the threat to the “Great British pub”.

Liberal Democrat Bob Russell took up his position at 8.40pm outside the door of the Table Office just outside the Commons Chamber so that he could be first in the queue to table an Early Day Motion (EDM) when the doors opened at 10am.

The Colchester MP’s all-night sit-ins have become something of a tradition on the eve of the annual State Opening of Parliament. For several years, Russell has staked a claim to table the first EDM.

Russell’s EDM is titled “Campaign to Save the Great British Pub” in which he raises the decline in numbers of pubs and calls on the Government to support the pub industry’s “Axe the Beer Tax, Save the Pub" campaign.

In February, Lib Dem colleague Greg Matthews tabled an EDM calling on the Government to take action to save the community pub.

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By Daniel Thomas

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