Six parliamentary candidates in Warwickshire have signed a charter vowing to support community pubs.
Nigel Rock (Kenilworth & Southam), Alan Beddows (Warwick & Leamington), Jerry Roodhouse (Rugby) and Martin Turner (Stratford) signed for the Lib Dems.
Also signing were Labour's Rob Johnston (Stratford) and Ian Davison (Green) in Warwick & Leamington.
The Campaign for Real Ale charter wants better deals for inns tied to selling big pub company beers.
'Commitment'
A spokesman for CAMRA said any candidates signing the charter pledged, if elected, to back reforms of the beer tie rules.
It estimates five pubs are closing every day across the UK as a result of large pub companies forcing their tenants to buy their beer at around 50% above free market prices.
The group wants a legally binding code of conduct, a guest beer right and a free of tie option for tied tenants.
"CAMRA will be calling on each of the elected candidates to back up their commitment to reform the beer tie with action," a spokesman said.
It's a sad but true fact that "pre-election pledges" are seldom worth the paper they are printed on.
