Scores of MPs want tax break for beer

By Matt Eley Matt

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Alcoholic beverage British beer & pub association

More than 120 MPs have added their names to calls for tax policy that is sympathetic to the beer industry. Political big hitters such as former...

More than 120 MPs have added their names to calls for tax policy that is sympathetic to the beer industry.

Political big hitters such as former Liberal Democrat leader Menzies Campbell, Tory Anne Widdecombe and Labour's Gerald Kaufman are among the 123 those who have shown their support for an early day motion (EDM).

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has been encouraging members of the public to get their MPs to sign up as part of its 'I'm Backing the Pub' campaign,

Mark Hastings, BBPA director of communications, said: "Many thousands of people have so far responded to the I'm Backing the Pub campaign and lobbied their MP to sign EDM 157 and urge government to rethink its policy on beer tax.

"The fact that 120 MPs have so far signed making it the eighth most supported EDM of the moment shows strong political support for pubs and for government action on tax.

The motion was posted by Tory Nigel Evans MP prior to last week's Pre-Budget Report.

It calls for "the government to pursue a tax policy that benefits low-strength alcoholic drinks like beer, Britain's national drink, and is fair to an industry that employs more than half a million people and plays a crucial part in supporting the economic and social wellbeing of communities across the UK."

It also urged Chancellor Alistair Darling to reduce duty on beer when VAT returns to 17.5 per cent in January, but this plea was ignored.

Click on the link to see who has signed the EDM - Nigel Evans EDM

For more information on the BBPA campaign visit www.backthepub.com

Related topics Beer

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