OTLEY’S MP has become the toast of landlords and landladies across the country.

Greg Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West) helped mastermind a surprise vote in the House of Commons this week that will shake-up the pub industry.

Fifteen Conservatives and 24 Liberal Democrats defied their party whips on Tuesday to help defeat the Government by supporting a move to loosen the control large breweries have over licensees.

The amendment to the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill, put forward by Mr Mulholland, means pubs would be able to negotiate rents and shop around for beer, rather than be forced to buy it from the companies who own them.

Mr Mulholland, who chairs the Save The Pub campaign, said: “This was a victory for people power, commonsense, fairness and a huge, hard-pressed group of publicans and their customers.

“I thank all MPs who had the courage to listen to their constituent licensees, and CAMRA members and campaigners who have been campaigning for years to end what they call the pub scandal.”

The Federation of Small Businesses’ national chairman, John Allan, added: “This is a historic day for tied publicans who look forward to a more open and competitive marketplace.”