Rayleigh and Wickford MP, Mark Francois, has recently pledged his support for the Long Live the Local Campaign to help pubs in Rayleigh and Wickford keep their doors open. Mark Francois joins more than 240,000 people who have now signed the petition so far, including 341 in Rayleigh and Wickford alone.
Mark Francois MP is calling 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 Rayleigh and Wickford supports 862 jobs and contributes £21.0m to the local economy.
Commenting on the campaign, Mark Francois MP said:
“Pubs are at the heart of communities across Rayleigh and Wickford, 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.”
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 Rayleigh and Wickford. We are very grateful to Mark Francois for his 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.”
