World CupFurious landlords and MPs in Wales have reacted to the news that their pubs will not be allowed to stay open late during the World Cup in Brazil.

The Government has agreed to relax licensing laws at pubs across England to accommodate supporters during the tournament in June – a U-turn on its previous policy that was predicted by The Mail on Sunday last month.

But it has emerged that only pubs in England will be allowed to serve into the early hours, leaving the 3,500 in Wales closing as normal. Scotland has separate licensing laws.

The Home Office confirmed that the order, made under a rule applying to events of ‘exceptional national significance’, will apply just to England, the only home nation to have a team in the tournament.

Welsh publicans and MPs said this was unfair, both to English people living in Wales and Welsh pub owners.

Conservative MP for Vale of Glamorgan Alun Cairns described the situation as ‘outrageous’ and has written to Home Secretary Theresa May to request a change.

“Welsh pubs will want the same boost as English ones,” he told The Mail.

“If they have to apply for individual extensions there’s an associated cost and effort.”