Beer-loving John Healey's bid for a Budget cut to cheer
ALE-loving MP John Healey has called on George Osborne to cut beer duty in the Budget tomorrow.
The Wentworth and Dearne MP and former pubs minister (pictured) joined the British Beer & Pub Association, the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) by sending a “message in a barrel”, calling on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to make the fresh cut.
He said three cuts in beer duty over the past three budgets had proved a massive boost for brewing and pubs in the UK, resulting in more affordable beer and millions of pounds of investment in pubs but said more could still be done.
“The recovery in the beer and pub sector remains fragile, and Britons still pay more beer tax than any of our neighbours in the EU's top brewing nations,” he said.