St Albans MP calls for probe into the UK beer industry at annual CAMRA festival

27 Sep 2026

Posted at 08:54 in Events, St Albans

MP Daisy Cooper announced a new Liberal Democrat party policy at the opening of this week’s St Albans Beer and Cider Festival.

The Treasury spokesperson told guests at the Alban Arena that her party would be calling on the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate whether there were any unfair advantages enjoyed by big brewers over smaller independents.

She was supporting a call by festival organisers CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) for a review into whether the larger companies were misleading consumers over their products’ craft credentials and geographical origin.

This year’s beer festival ran from Wednesday to Saturday, and guests enjoyed a choice of more than 300 cask ales, craft beers, lagers, international brews, ciders and perries – plus street food and live entertainment.

(Left) Peter Hill, who spent six years visiting all 4,429 boozers featured in the 2020 edition of the Good Beer Guide, finishing up at The Mermaid in St Albans.

Former councillor and Mayor Geoff Harrison and Father Richard Watson from St Saviour’s Church.

Local CAMRA chair Ian Boyd and MP Daisy Cooper.

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