MEP calls on Chancellor to call time on beer tax rise

A Welsh Member of the European Parliament, John Bufton has called on the Chancellor to back Britain’s beer and pub sector by calling time on expected tax increases in the forthcoming Budget.

He said: “I’m backing this campaign by the British Beer & Pub Association, the Society of Independent Brewers and the Campaign for Real Ale, calling for the Chancellor to abandon the planned 5% tax hike on beer. The alcohol sector brings £8.5m pounds to the Welsh economy and supports some 45,000 jobs.”

When challenged in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg MP stressed the importance of supporting the role of local pubs.