Picture: Burton & Uttoxeter's MP, Kate Griffiths, with the Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, Emma McClarkin.
Kate Griffiths, Member of Parliament for Burton and Uttoxeter, has today reaffirmed her pledge to support the Long Live the Local campaign to help pubs and breweries recover and thrive after enduring the hardships caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Kate joins over 125,000 people who have signed the petition so far, including 447 in Burton and Uttoxeter alone.
Ms Griffiths is calling on the Government to lower VAT and business rates for pubs, and for an overall reduction in Beer Duty ahead of the Budget next Wednesday, October 27th.
With £1 in every £3 spent in UK pubs going to the Treasury, British drinkers and pub-goers are overtaxed, and this is hampering the recovery of both our cherished locals and Britain’s brewers.
As Burton is the brewing capital of the UK, 4,757 jobs are supported by breweries and pubs in Burton and Uttoxeter, which also contribute £175 million to the local economy.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on brewers and pubs throughout the UK, and continues to do so as the brewing sector tries to kickstart its recovery.
The brewing sector has highlighted that a single local pub can add £100,000 to its local economy, create jobs, and act as a social hub for the community. That’s why it is calling for an immediate boost for these establishments in the form of lower VAT, business rates, and an overall cut to Beer Duty, which would help pubs, breweries and the wider community to recover from the pandemic.
The Long Live the Local campaign has also said support would be a boost to Britain’s world class brewing sector, a homegrown manufacturing success story that brews over 80 per cent of the beer drunk in the UK.
Commenting on the campaign, Kate Griffiths MP said:
“As brewing capital of the UK, breweries and pubs are at the heart of communities across Burton and Uttoxeter, but with pubs bearing a disproportionate burden of the pandemic’s fallout, the Government should consider cutting taxes on pubs so they can build back better.
“I’m supporting the Long Live the Local campaign—calling on the Chancellor to lower VAT and business rates for pubs, and reduce Beer Duty overall at next week’s Budget to support the recovery of Burton and Uttoxeter pubs and our local economy.”
Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association said:
“85 per cent of pubs are based in community and rural areas, bringing jobs to the parts of the UK that need them most. They employ over 600,000 people, of which 43 per cent are under 25.
“Cutting business rates and VAT—and an overall reduction in Beer Duty—would go a long way to helping pubs and brewers across Burton and Uttoxeter that are desperately trying to recover.
“We are very grateful to Kate Griffiths MP for her support for the Long Live the Local campaign, and hope that the Government listens to her, her colleagues in Parliament, and the thousands of people across the country who are calling on the Chancellor to lower VAT and business rates for pubs, and reduce Beer Duty overall.”
