I joined colleagues from across the House at a CARA event to celebrate the UKs fantastic real ale heritage.

CAMRA has done excellent work campaigning for real ale and pubs more generally. In England they have secured protection within the planning system, lobbied for a Pubs Code and Adjudicator and fought to scrap the beer duties escalator (which would have seen the price of a pint rise year on year).

This month I also took part in the Scottish Beer Festival as a judge in the “strong bitters” category.  Someone had to do it. Hic hic.

As a former pub owner myself I know the value pubs can bring to a community and will continue to support CAMRA in their efforts to safeguard UK pubs.