Sixty Members of Parliament from all parties have joined forces in calls for a freeze in beer duty in the March Budget by sending a special ‘message in a barrel’ to the Chancellor at an event in Westminster, as featured on page two of the Sun newspaper of 28 February.
The Theakston’s hand-crafted oak barrel, containing its calls from MPs for a freeze in beer duty, was later taken to the Treasury by MPs and representatives of the British Beer & Pub Association (organisers of the event) CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) and SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers). This iconic symbol of Britain’s world-renowned brewing and pub industry is a reminder of how important brewing and pubs are to the UK economy, says the BBPA.
Beer duty has risen by an unprecedented 42% since March 2008, yet the Chancellor plans a further increase in the Budget on 20th March. The result of the controversial policy has been falling beer sales and pub closures in recent years.
Brigid Simmonds Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, which organised today’s event as part of the growing Beer Tax campaign, adds:
“I want to thank so many MPs for championing beer and pubs in their constituency. Beer Tax hikes are not raising more revenues for the Government, and with a duty freeze we can create many more jobs.”