Tim Loughton joined 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 Parliament last Wednesday (27th February)
The hand-crafted oak barrel, an iconic symbol of Britain’s world-renowned brewing and pub industry, is a reminder of how important brewing and pubs are to the East Worthing and Shoreham constituency, says Tim.
The barrel, with it calls for a freeze in beer duty, was later delivered to the Treasury by MPs and representatives of the British Beer & Pub Association, CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) and SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers).
Beer duty has risen by an unprecedented 42 per cent 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.
Tim commented:
“I strongly support calls for a duty freeze and I hope the Chancellor will listen. Further tax hikes will close more pubs and cost more jobs in Worthing and Shoreham.”