By Emma McClarkin Britain’s pubs are not only essential for the economy, they are at the centre of the national psyche; Britain must protect them, writes Emma McClarkin What if Britain had a minister for pubs? It wouldn’t be a bad idea. Our world-leading pub and brewing sector employs almost a million people, contributes over £26bn to the UK economy and generates more than £15bn in tax. It’s also one of our few homegrown industries – over 80 per cent of the beer consumed in the UK is brewed here, and our exports are in demand all over the world. The minister would hardly be short of things to …