Giles Watling, MP for Clacton, has re-pledged their support for the Long Live the Local Campaign to help pubs in Clacton keep their doors open. In doing so, Giles joins the more than 240,000 people who have also signed up to support, including 309 in Clacton alone.
This campaign calls on the Government to cut beer tax at the Budget. With £1 in every £3 pounds spent in UK pubs going to the taxman, British drinkers now pay 40% of all beer tax across the EU, but drink only 12% of the beer. Seven in ten alcoholic drinks served in pubs are beer, underlining how directly a cut in beer duty will help pubs. Brewing and pubs in Clacton supports 806 jobs and contributes £19.4m to the local economy.
Commenting on the campaign, Giles Watling MP said:
“Pubs are at the heart of communities across Clacton, but with three British pubs closing their doors for good every day the Government should consider a cut to beer tax. I’m supporting the Long Live the Local campaign and calling on the Chancellor to cut beer tax at this year’s Budget to support pubs in our local communities.
“And when we leave the EU, we will be able to take more progressive steps, which are currently denied to us as part of the single market. As an example, we would be able to differentiate the beer duty rate between pubs and supermarkets, to ensure that supermarkets cannot continue to undercut our locals with cheap beer.”
Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said:
“Beer duty has increased by 60% over the last 17 years and now the UK has one of the highest rates of tax in Europe. When over two thirds of all alcoholic drinks purchased in the pub are beers, a cut in beer tax would go a long way to protecting pubs across Clacton. We are very grateful to Giles Watling for their support for the Long Live the Local campaign, and hope that the Government listens to MPs across Parliament and the thousands of people across the country who are calling for a cut in beer tax to protect our pubs.”