Dr Kieran Mullan, MP for Bexhill and Battle, used Prime Minister’s Questions to highlight the challenges facing the hospitality sector under Labour. Over the summer, he visited pubs across the constituency to hear first-hand from landlords about the pressures they are experiencing.
During his visits, landlords spoke proudly about the role their pubs play in the community but raised serious concerns about rising energy bills, inflation, staff shortages, and the impact of the Government’s jobs tax.
In his question, he challenged the Prime Minister over fears that planned new employment laws risk making the challenges worse, asking “Can the Prime Minister name a single pub landlord that thinks his current Deputy Prime Minister’s employment bill is going to help rather than just make things worse?”
Nationally, UKHospitality estimates that 80,000 jobs have already been lost, while the British Beer & Pub Association reports that Britain is on course to lose a pub every single day this year.
In Bexhill and Battle, 69 pubs support over 1,300 local jobs and contribute £45 million to the local economy. Kieran emphasised the importance of protecting these businesses, saying: “When a pub closes, we lose more than just a business – it costs jobs, weakens community spirit, and hits the local economy.”
He also highlighted the vital role pubs play in providing flexible and part-time work for young people, often their first job. Unfortunately, these opportunities have dropped sharply this year as pubs struggle to cope with rising costs and staffing pressures.
Kieran Mullan MP concluded: “I will continue to stand with our pubs and the people who make them great. They are the heart of our towns, and they deserve support, stability, and the chance to thrive.”
