If you’ve ever turned up to your local only to find it boarded up, you’re not alone – and most people in the East Midlands are pointing the finger straight at the Government.

New research from the Long Live the Local campaign, carried out by More in Common, has found that 65 per cent of people in the East Midlands blame either national or local government when a pub closes. With local elections coming up, campaigners say politicians should be taking this seriously.

Despite January’s Budget U-turn designed to support pubs, many voters clearly don’t think it’s enough. According to figures from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), one pub is still closing every single day in England and Wales, and around 2,000 pubs have disappeared since 2020.

When asked what would actually save Britain’s locals, the most common answer was pretty clear: 35 per cent of voters said the best fix would be fairer business rates for pubs.

Even though people are passionate about their local, hardly anyone thinks their MP is doing much to help.

Only 12 per cent of voters said their MP had spoken up for pubs at all, and just five per cent felt their MP had done enough to support pubs in their area – ouch!

Emma McClarkin, CEO of the BBPA, says the message from voters couldn’t be clearer.

She said: “Despite recent important support from the Government and the many MPs across all political parties that champion pubs and brewers, voters clearly believe that there is still more to be done.

“Pubs are the soul of the community, they create jobs, and with a quarter of a million people joining our Long Live the Local campaign – including thousands in the East Midlands – it’s no wonder people care about them so much.”

She added that people want a fair tax system that recognises pubs as essential community spaces, not just another business on the high street.

“With the local elections right around the corner, it’s key for candidates to recognise just how important pubs are and to back their local,” she said, calling for permanent business rates reform, lower employment costs, and cuts to beer duty and VAT.

‘Government just isn’t doing enough’

Luke Tryl, Executive Director at More in Common, says the polling shows just how emotionally tied people are to pubs – and how frustrated they feel.

“One thing comes through really strongly: the British public really care about pubs,” he said. “They see them as central to their community and they don’t think the Government is doing enough to protect them.”

He warned that continued closures could make things even worse for politicians: “At a time when the Government is already struggling with a restless electorate, a wave of further pub closures will only reinforce the sense that those in charge aren’t delivering for local communities.”

His conclusion? Sorting out issues like business rates could be a quick win.

“It’s one way the Government can show it gets it – and get the public back onside,” he said.