MP Mike Wood this week introduced a Crooked House inspired Bill to Parliament with the aim of better protecting heritage pubs up and down the country.

The Kingswinford and South Staffordshire MP presented the Heritage Public Houses Bill to Parliament on Monday October 21.

The Bill requires local authorities to maintain a register of heritage pubs in their area and put in various protections that could help to preserve historic public houses.

It will now proceed to its second reading on March 7, 2025.

Speaking after presenting it to Parliament, Mr Wood said: "What happened to the Crooked House in 2023 was completely unforgivable and resulted in the destruction of an icon of our local heritage overnight.

“Save The Crooked House campaigners and my former colleague Marco Longhi have done fantastic work trying to get the pub rebuilt, but we clearly need to go further and legislate to protect our heritage pubs and ensure that such a terrible loss never happens again.”

The MP, who has been appointed Shadow Minister for Business and Trade, has also been busy advocating for pubs and the hospitality sector ahead of the Chancellor’s budget next week.

Mike Wood MP speaking as Shadow Minister for Business and Trade in Westminster Hall in a debate on pubs and the hospitality industryMike Wood MP speaking as Shadow Minister for Business and Trade in Westminster Hall in a debate on pubs and the hospitality industry (Image: Mike Wood MP / Parliament TV)

During a Westminster Hall debate on Support for Pubs and Hospitality on Tuesday October 22, he expressed his support for the sector and made several requests to the new government including voicing his opposition to a predicted rise in employer National Insurance contributions and the proposed ban on smoking in beer gardens.

The MP said: “The new government made a lot of promises before the election, some of which they now seem to be trying to row back from.

“The pubs and hospitality need them to deliver, and to deliver now, starting with next week's Budget, the Chancellor needs to start with a cut to alcohol duties.

“Above all, the Chancellor needs to finally publish her replacement for business rates with a new system that is fair to the hospitality sector, which pays a disproportionate share of business rate receipts.”