- Over one-in-four Scottish voters said the single most impactful decision Government could do to help the sector is to make business rates fair
- One-in-ten say that their MP has spoken up for the sector and just 7% say that their MP is doing enough to protect pubs
- Ahead of the local elections, the Long Live the Local campaign calls on MPs to make pubs a priority
Scottish voters blame Government when their local closes, new research conducted by the Long Live the Local campaign and More in Common research reveals.
Campaigners say that the survey, which found that 48% of the Scottish public blames either national or local government when a pub closes, should act as a warning to politicians ahead of the local elections that they must prioritise the sector.
When asked what would save the sector, the plurality of voters (26%) said that making business rates fair for pubs would be the best decision.
Despite the strong feelings voters in Scotland have for their local pub, few felt that their local MP was sufficiently engaged on the issue.
These results follow additional support for Scottish pubs, showing that many voters clearly believe that there is still more to be done to truly protect Britain’s pubs.
Only 10% of voters said that their MP had spoken up for the sector, whilst just 7% said that their MP had done enough to support pubs in their constituency.
Emma McClarkin, CEO of the Scottish Beer and Pub Association, said: “Despite recent important support from the Government and the many MPs across all political parties that champion pubs and brewers, voters clearly believe that there is still more to be done.
“Pubs are the soul of the community, create jobs, and, with a quarter of a million people joining our Long Live the Local campaign that supports the people behind the pint, including thousands in Scotland, it’s no wonder people care about them so much.
“What the public want is a fair tax system for pubs, one that keeps business competitive and recognises their unique role as valuable spaces for communities across the country.
“With the local elections right around the corner, it’s key for candidates to recognise just how important pubs are for so many and to back their local.
“We’re calling on the Government to continue to work with us and deliver permanent business rates reform, lower employment costs, cut beer duty and VAT to save countless locals who are burdened with huge regulatory costs.”
Luke Tryl, Executive Director at More in Common, said: “One thing comes through really strongly in this polling, the British public really care about pubs, they think they are a central part of their community and they don’t think the Government is doing enough to protect them.
“In fact, over half of British voters blame national or local government for pub closures and want to see politicians at all levels doing more to stand up for them. At a time when the Government already finds itself struggling with a restless electorate a wave of further pub closures will only reinforce the frustration that those in charge are unable or unwilling to deliver for local communities across Britain.
“On the flipside taking action on issues like rates is one way the Government can show that it gets it, recognises the value of pubs and gets the public back onside.”
The Scottish Beer and Pub Association’s Long Live the Local campaign launched in 2018 to raise awareness of the UK’s alarming rate of pub closures.
Currently standing at over 250,000 supporters from all over the country, the campaign encourages people to support the people behind the pint.
