Tory pub fan to push for scrapping of duty escalator
A pub-supporting Conservative MP says he will be urging George Osborne to scrap the alcohol duty escalator and introduce a fairer tax system on cask beers.
Nigel Evans, vice chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, told The Publican: "Hopefully it will be recognised that beer is not an easy target for tax purposes.
"I will be campaigning for the duty escalator to be scrapped and writing to the Chancellor calling for drinks to be looked at on an individual basis."
As it stands, Labour's alcohol duty escalator means that all alcohol duties will rise by two per cent above inflation each year until 2015.
Evans also rejected the idea that hand pulled beer could not be treated differently because of European rules. "I don't see it as a European issue," he said. "It has nothing to do with other countries, it affects beers in Britain."
The MP, who easily held his Ribble Valley seat last week, said he also expected his party to go through with its plan to scrap the 10 per cent above inflation duty hike on cider. On the issue of the beer tie, Evans admitted there were still "issues" and he would be raising it with the relevant department.
He said he would also be asking Sky for details of a review of its pricing structure for pubs.
And pushed on whether he would like the job of chairman of the Beer Group, now John Grogan has left Parliament, he said: "I will put my name forward. I've been vice chairman forever."
