Local MP criticises Government for 'blocking' pub protection legislation

Kingswinford and South Staffordshire MP, Mike Wood has condemned Labour MPs for preventing a vote on his legislation, designed to safeguard historic public hubs, in parliament.

The Government have been accused by Mr Wood of thwarting landmark legislation aimed at strengthening protections for England’s historic pubs, after Labour MPs prevented hiss Heritage Public Houses Bill from reaching a decisive vote in the House of Commons yesterday afternoon.

The Bill was scheduled for its Second Reading debate and sought to introduce wide-ranging statutory protections for historic public houses in the wake of the public outcry surrounding the destruction of the iconic Crooked House in August 2023.

The Conservative MP secured third place in the annual Private Members’ Bill ballot. He brought forward the legislation in response to concerns that gaps in existing planning and heritage protections leave historic pubs vulnerable to speculative purchases, secretive sales and demolition.

However, the debate did not conclude before the strict 2:30pm deadline for Private Members’ Bills as Labour MPs delivered lengthy speeches opposing the proposed legislation, preventing the House from reaching a vote on its merits.

Although Mr Wood sought to secure the Bill’s Second Reading on 15th January 2027, it was unable to progress as intended today and now faces significant parliamentary obstacles, leaving its prospects of becoming law unlikely.

Mr Wood said: “This was Andy Burnham’s first test of whether he means what he says on pubs and he’s flunked it. The Government lined up their MPs to talk out the Bill and then voted to make sure that there wasn’t a vote.

“Labour MP after Labour MP stood up to argue that the measures weren’t needed because there are existing protections in place, and then each reeled off a list of their local pubs - most of which don’t have any more protection than the Crooked House had when it was sold off and then destroyed.

“If so many precious historic pubs are currently unprotected then surely it shows gaps in the current protections that need to be filled.”

The failure of Mr Wood’s Bill to progress represents a setback for efforts to secure stronger legal protections for historic public houses and prevent other communities from experiencing the loss of a treasured local landmark.