publican

The tradition was started by four publicans who were thinking of ways to generate income after Stilton was bypassed by the A1 in 1959, Adam Leon, one of its organisers previously told the BBC.

Like prime ministers, Phil has seen four long-term publicans oversee his work.

The petition, started by a West Midlands publican who voted Conservative at July's general election, has now gathered over 2.7m signatures.

A publican already fed up with the new government has said the viral response to his petition calling for a fresh election - just months after the vote - has been beyond his "wildest dreams".

Mr McDowall said that if it is removed, small publicans will see their business rates bill quadruple from April.