Tim Martin: 'Gordon Brown is the worst Prime Minister in history'

JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin has branded Gordon Brown the "worst Prime Minister in history" in the aftermath of yesterday's Budget.

Speaking to thepublican.com after the two per cent hike was announced, Martin said: "We're back in the 1970s, with huge public deficits which we can't finance and taxes are being ramped up for both businesses and individuals. I call on the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats to vote against these tax rises on pubs.

"Gordon Brown is the worst Prime Minister in history."

The outspoken pub operator also called for taxes to be held at pre-Budget levels for between five and seven years.

Meanwhile, Paul Wells, chief executive at Charles Wells Ltd, bemoaned the fact that the Chancellor has ignored the industry's pleas on tax.

"Here is an industry that is of enormous importance to communities across the UK and it's simply tragic that there has been no help for them in this difficult time," he said.

"Axe The Tax was one of the best campaigns the industry has conducted in years, but the Chancellor has simply been deaf to the calls from the industry."

But Neville Hall, sales and marketing manager at Budvar UK, said he believed it proved the government hated the industry and the trade should give up its lobbying efforts.

"The representatives of our industry have probably been flattered by ministerial attempts to sweet talk them and falsely encouraged by all the supposed support from members of the House," he said.

"They should forget it and forget even trying to talk with this malevolent administration. Now the only thing to do is to throw our weight behind getting rid of the government."