Lees-Jones calls for freeze on beer duty
WILLIAM Lees-Jones, the managing director of Middleton-based brewer JW Lees & Co, has written to local MPs urging them to back calls for a freeze on beer tax.
Lees-Jones wants local MPs to sign up to a Parliamentary motion, EDM 1475, to show their support for the local beer and pub trade.
The motion supports a wider campaign led by the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), to freeze beer duty and scrap the controversial beer duty escalator ahead of this year’s Budget.
“I hope our local MPs will listen to concerns, and back this motion in Parliament, as beer and pubs are an absolutely vital part of our local economy,” said Lees-Jones.
Since 2008, beer duty has increased by 26 per cent. Moreover, inflationary pressure could lead to a further 7.1% increase in next week’s budget, bringing the total increase to more than 35% over three years.
Brewers are arguing that when combined with the VAT increase, which has added a further 6p to the price of a pint, 2011 could see the biggest rise in prices of beer in pubs ever.
“The current Government policy is counterproductive, as it is shutting down pubs and costing jobs.
“Instead, we could be creating jobs, and helping to lead the country out of a recession – as well as keeping much-loved local pubs in business.”
A report commissioned by the BBPA and completed by Oxford Economics last month found that the beer and pub sector supports around one million jobs in the UK.
