Hi Sam (no relation for those out there) Greg Mullholland is much less anonymous than most MPs and has championed pubs and publicans and what good they do for the well being of communities very solidly for a long time. He has a thorough grasp of the industry and is one of the best informed politicians on the subject of the pub trade.

And you are right, no one really would expect a supplier to reduce their prices along with a cut in duty - but the discussion is academic any how because duty will not be dropped - the most that possibly could happen is the escalator being stopped but no one should hold their breath. The climate in politics altogether means duty on beer (and other alcohol too) is set to increase inexorably. Silly and wrong but that is the bone headed way it goes.