Commenting on the confidence and supply agreement reached between the Government and the DUP today, Brigid Simmonds, BBPA Chief Executive, said:
“What UK business needs is more certainty, and today’s deal should mean that the Government has a working majority in Parliament as the Brexit negotiations proceed.
“On the specifics of what has been agreed, it is positive for pubs that the Government has agreed to review the impact of VAT on tourism in Northern Ireland (as well as Air Passenger Duty), but it is important to stress that whilst this has a big impact in Northern Ireland, high rates of VAT on hospitality is very much a UK-wide issue, so we will be looking closely at what emerges.”