By Scott Wright

PUB trade campaigners have accused Tory MSPs of trying to "wreck" legislation which would give tenants greater rights in their dealings with powerful landlords.

The Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill, proposed by Labour MSP Neil Bibby, will be debated by MSPs on the Economy, Energy, and Fair Work Committee at Holyrood this week. The Bill proposes to introduce a statutory code of conduct to govern the relationship between tenants and landlords, and “market-rent-only” lease deals, allowing tenants to pay the market rate to rent pubs without having to buy beer from landlords. The latter would end the beer tie.

However, a coalition of trade groups which supports the bill say there has been an attempt to derail the legislation after 315 amendments were introduced before the stage 2 debate. Some 50 pages of amendments have been lodged by a handful of MSPs to a bill that was originally 21 pages long. More than 220 of the 285 amendments were tabled by Conservative MSPs.

The bill is supported by the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale), the British Pub Confederation and what is understood to be the majority of Scottish pub tenants in Scotland.

Paul Waterson of the SLTA said the Tories had put "wrecking amendments" in place. “It’s simply not fair that large pub-owning businesses can restrict pub tenants to buying beer at vastly inflated prices and force so many to live in virtual poverty,” he said.

“The SLTA has listened carefully to the arguments on both sides... and has offered to work with the pub companies on a series of compromises that could be proposed via joint amendments, which would both address their concerns and also allow pub tenants a fair deal and the ability to earn a decent living. It is disappointing that the bill’s opponents have chosen to try to subvert the legislation with these amendments rather than engaging in positive and constructive dialogue to find a genuine, fair and equitable compromise, but our door is always open.”