Licensing law shambles - Dakers & Khalsa

12.00.00am GMT Mon 21st Nov 2005

Last Tuesday Liberal Democrat MPs voted in favour of a Commons motion to scupper the Government's plans to allow 24-hour drinking. The motion was a final bid to annul the Licensing Act 2003. Unfortunately, the Labour government defeated the motion by a majority of 74 and the licensing reforms will come into force from this Thursday, 24 November.

Andrew Dakers, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Brentford & Isleworth, said:

"I am not a killjoy, but with the festive season around the corner, longer opening hours will only fuel binge drinking. Labour has botched reform of drinking laws. Hounslow Council and local residents are left picking up the pieces."

Satnam Kaur Khalsa, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Feltham & Heston, added:

"The government has turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to warnings from many judges, doctors and senior police officers. Drink fuelled anti-social behaviour is a nation-wide problem which the Licensing Act fails to tackle. Local communities like those in Hounslow Borough will have to pick up the pieces and pay the price for this poorly timed change."