DISMAY AT YET MORE TAX INCREASES ON BEER
The 2 % increase on beer adds insult to injury says local MP Malcolm Moss

Malcolm Moss MP for North East Cambridgeshire has expressed his dismay at the Chancellor’s announcement about increases in beer tax increases.

In yesterdays budget it was announced that tax on alcohol was to rise by another 2 percent. This will translate into an increase of 3p per pint. This is devastating news for an industry that has already been struggling in this recession.

The British Beer and Pub Association estimates that the impact of yesterdays Budget on the UK's beer and pub industry will be the loss of 60,000 more jobs over the next five years and the closure of thousands more pubs.

The decision has been described by the ‘Axe the Beer Tax’ campaign as a betrayal after huge support from both the public and MP’s. There are now widespread calls for the Chancellor to reverse this unfair and unjustified move at this difficult time.

Malcolm Moss MP said:

“I am shocked and dismayed at this latest blow to the beer and pub industries. Following recent big tax increases on beer this latest announcement adds insult to injury and I am appalled. At a time when the Government ought to be helping businesses it has made life considerably more difficult for many within the industry.

The impact of Government policy up until now, coupled with the recession has meant that many pubs in North East Cambridgeshire have already closed. This further increase in duty will undoubtedly lead to further closures and makes life infinitely more difficult for traditional breweries such as Elgood’s in Wisbech to continue running successful businesses. I have written to the Chancellor to express my condemnation of this decision.”