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MP backing campaign to save our pubs
SUPPORTING PUBS: MP David Warburton
By Karen Bate newsdesk@blackmorevale.net
Beer sales in British pubs halved last year dropping to the lowest levels since the 1920s as they faced tough restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic. David Warburton Conservative MP for Somerton and Frome has pledged his support for the Long Live the Local campaign to help pubs in his constituency of Somerton and Frome survive. Mr Warburton has joined the 502,442 people to date who have signed the petition so far, including 1,126 in his constituency, urging the Chancellor to cut beer tax in the Budget. In 2020 beer sales in pubs fell by 56 per cent, which amounts to £7.8bn in lost sales. Brewing and pubs in Somerton and Frome supports 1,565 jobs and contributes £40.2m to the local economy. With £1 in every £3 pounds spent in UK pubs going to the taxman, British drinkers pay more in beer duty each year than those in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Ireland combined. Mr Warburton has long been a keen supporter of local pubs, having launched his own ‘Save the Pub’ campaign in Somerton and Frome in 2014 while he was 74
a Parliamentary candidate. He has since lobbied the Government on many occasions to reduce beer tax, business rates for pub landlords and cider duty for independent cider producers. Mr Warburton said: “Pubs are at the heart of communities across Somerset, but with pubs bearing a disproportionate burden as a result of the pandemic 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.” David Cunningham, the programme director of Long Live The Local, added: “Beer duty has increased by 60 per cent 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 Somerton and Frome that have suffered so much in the last year. We are very grateful to David Warburton MP 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.”
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