Tory MPs put pressure on Sunak to cut beer duty for pubs
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Rishi Sunak faces pressure from more than 100 Tory MPs to back pubs by cutting beer duty for draught pints.
The campaign orchestrated by MP Richard Holden calls for the Chancellor not to increase alcohol duties and to cut the tax on draught sales to help pubs compete with supermarkets and off licences.
Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan-Smith and ex-Cabinet ministers Alun Cains and Karen Bradley are among the scores of Conservatives to have signed a letter to the Chancellor calling for the move in next week’s Budget.
North West Durham MP Mr Holden said: ““Our pubs are the heart and soul of our communities.
“The support given to pubs through furlough and grants throughout the global pandemic has been great but there is no denying that the hospitality sector has been hit harder than any other by the pandemic.
“That is why I am leading the call from over 100 colleagues on the Chancellor to cut draught beer duty.
“A cut will not only significantly bolster our much-loved pubs across our towns and villages, but also have great knock-on effects for British agriculture and employment, especially for young people in our hospitality sector.
“Over 100 fellow Conservative MPs and I hope that after a tough period, the Chancellor will give our pubs and clubs something to raise a drink to this Budget.”
