Chancellor should Axe the Beer Tax - Leech

3.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 21st Apr 2009

John Leech joins other MPs in asking the Chancellor to Axe the Tax!

Ahead of tomorrows Budget Statement, John Leech, Lib Dem MP for Manchester Withington, has joined members of the parliamentary beer group at Downing Street to call for greater protection for the struggling pub industry.

Despite pub closures standing at almost 6 a day nationwide, the Chancellor of the Exchequer is expected to announce an increase in beer tax of 2% above the rate of inflation for the next four years. However, Mr Leech, who is supporting the Axe the Beer Tax campaign, fears that this move could cast further doubt over the future of many of Manchester's pubs.

John Leech said:

"A third of the price of a pint of beer already goes on tax and now the government is planning to increase this further. The pub industry is an easy target for the Chancellor but any increase in beer tax risks crippling an already struggling industry. Pubs are often a focal point for local communities and they need helping through these tough economic times, not punishing further."

"If the government wants to tackle excessive drinking, it should start by addressing the issue of supermarkets undercutting pubs by selling alcohol for below cost price. Existing laws already allow us to tackle irresponsible drinkers and the premises that sell to them - these need enforcing properly before the government thinks about introducing new ones, and a hike in taxation is certainly not the way forward."

John Leech MP with Adele Silva

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Notes to editors

On Monday, 20th April 2009, John Leech attended an Axe the Beer Tax campaign meeting at the Red Lion pub in Westminster. Attached are photos of him at the Red Lion with actor Adele Silva (Emmerdale's Kelly Windsor) and outside Downing Street with members of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group.

John Leech is supporting the Axe the Beer Tax campaign. For more details of the campaign, see http://www.axethebeertax.com/default.aspx