Majority of MPs against beer tax hikes

Almost six out of ten MPs are against plans to increase beer duty in next week's Budget.

A ComRes poll showed that 59% opposed Chancellor Alistair Darling's controversial plans for a 2% above inflation duty escalator, following on from an 18% increase last year.

The poll also revealed that 41% of all Labour backbench MPs oppose the increase and 61% of MPs want Government action to support the pub as part of local communities.

The poll was released as part of the Axe the Tax campaign. To date, 202 MPs, including 97 Labour backbenchers, have signed a Parliamentary motion calling for a freeze on duty.

In addition, 25,000 members of the public have emailed their MP and 70% of the public said they did not believe an increase was justified in the current economic climate.

"This poll shows the Chancellor will be over-riding the majority of the Commons if he increases beer tax — as well as the majority of voters and consumers," said Shepherd Neame chief executive Jonathan Neame.

"The economic facts have changed dramatically for the worse since he announced last spring his intention to increase beer tax above inflation year by year. The case for beer tax increases — which we always contested — has been swept away by the recession. "The beer and pubs trade has suffered one of its worst years ever.

"Our message to the Chancellor is — don't kick this great traditional industry when it is down. When the facts change, change your mind. And rarely have the economic facts changed so fast."

Mike Benner, chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale, added: "It is clear that the majority of MPs are in the same place as the majority of consumers — they don't want further damage done to pubs by further tax increases.

"We are not asking for special favours, only for a reprieve from an unnecessary and unjustifiable tax rise.

"The Chancellor needs to recognise the scale of the threat to the traditional pub as more and more close with every month of recession."