Keir Starmer pulls a pint of "Tribute" behind the bar before meeting with local business leaders at the Chainlocker pub in Falmouth.A cabinet minister has slapped down a government colleague for suggesting that pubs could be forced to close early.
Andrew Gwynne, the public health minister, said the move could be necessary to tackle problem drinking.
Speaking a fringe event at the Labour conference in Liverpool, he said: “These are discussions that we have got to have – even if it’s just about tightening up on some of the hours of operation; particularly where there are concerns that people are drinking too much.”
But asked about his comments this morning, Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden made clear his opposition to the idea.
Speaking on Radio Four’s Today programme, he said: “We’ve got a day left of the conference and if that’s on the agenda I’m going to table an emergency resolution myself in order to make sure it doesn’t happen.
“The pub’s a great part of the British tradition and we’ve got no plans to change the opening hours in that way.”
A Department for Health spokesman said: “It is categorically untrue that the Government is considering changing alcohol licensing hours.”
The row comes as the government considers whether to ban smoking in pub gardens as part of its drive to improve public health.
The idea has sparked an angry backlash from the hospitality industry.
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