The UK government has appointed Conservative MP Bob Neill as minister responsible for community pubs, a role previously held by Labour's John Healey before the election.
The move follows calls from the Campaign for Real Ale for MPs to support community pubs and for the prime minister to appoint a dedicated pubs minister.
"The local pub is a great British institution and the social heartbeat of life in our towns and villages, bringing people together and strengthening community relationships," Neill said. "As minister with responsibility for pubs, I am determined to protect the valuable role pubs play and help them to thrive.
"As part of our commitment we are giving residents the power to take over local pubs that are threatened with closure and working with the sector to make sure expert advice is available to support them. I’m keen to hear more from publicans over the coming months about what more the government can do to protect the local pub."
