Mulholland: Darling is killing pubs

By Ewan Turney

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Lib dem mp Dem mp greg Leeds north west Greg mulholland Alistair darling

Mulholland: Darling is killing pubs
Chancellor Alistair Darling will go down in history as the man who killed the British pub, says Lib Dem MP Greg Mulholland

Chancellor Alistair Darling will go down in history as the man who killed the British pub unless he makes a U-turn on duty increases.

That's the stark warning from Lib Dem MP Greg Mulholland who challenged the Chancellor during oral questions in the House of Commons this morning.

The MP for Leeds North West, said that unless Darling makes a U-turn on his promise to increase duty 2% above inflation for the next four years, he would be responsible for hammering the final nail in the coffin.

"The latest rise in beer duty will have a devastating impact on the pub trade, which is already experiencing very difficult times,"​ he said.

"Alistair Darling has already been banned from pubs up and down the country because of this deeply flawed plans, which will not only fail to raise the predicted level of tax, it will force many pubs to close their doors for good.

"The Chancellor has already shown that he is willing to u-turn on measures he announced in the budget, and he should do so again.

"Otherwise he will go down in history as the man who killed the British Pub."

Mulholland has already tabled an EDM calling for the Chancellor to rethink his policy.

The MA is calling on the industry to unite. We need the help of grass-roots licensees and their customers to Fight the Hikes.

FIGHT THE HIKES

Get involved - follow these easy steps:

1. Download a Fight the Hikes Poster​ and put it up in your pub.

2. Download the Fight The Hikes Petition ​ and get your regulars to join the campaign. Consumer support is vital.

3. Download Extra Petition Sheets​.

4. Download the Fight the Hikes Letter​ and send it to your MP. It asks them to sign an EDM condemning the duty hikes, tells them about the campaign and invites them to the pub to discuss the issues first hand.

5. Find your MP's contact details here. Post or email him the letter.

6. Send your completed petitions to Fight the Hikes, Morning Advertiser, William Reed Business Media, Broadfield Park, Crawley, West Sussex, RH11 9RT.

7. Join the Fight the Hikes Facebook group​.

8. Take a picture of you, staff and customers with the poster and petition and email it to Ewan.Turney@william-reed.co.uk​.

• Remember you can also Ban the Chancellor from your pub by clicking here​.

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