Pubs, Beer Duty Cuts/CAMRA Campaign

My Liberal Democrat Parliamentary colleagues and I recognise that pubs often play an important role in the beating heart of our communities and are aware just how tough things have been for them in recent years.  Many pubs are still battling with COVID loans, workforce shortages, and are being barred from the best energy deals.

Now the government is piling on the pressure with their ill-thought-through jobs tax and higher business rates bills, which will push some pubs to call last orders for the final time.  The government could instead back Britain’s pubs and start that by scrapping its unwise Budget measures and bringing our struggling pubs back from the brink.

My Liberal Democrat Parliamentary colleagues and I tabled an amendment to the finance bill which would require the government to produce an impact assessment on the changes to alcohol pricing on small spirit distilleries, wine producers and wholesalers, the hospitality industry, and those operating in the night-time economy.  However, the Labour Party voted this down.  We will seek other parliamentary opportunities to press for improvements like this.