A campaign to slash beer duty and cut business rates for hospitality backed by Milton Keynes North MP Ben Everitt has been successful after announcements made in the Chancellor Rishi Sunak's Budget speech.
The Chancellor announced a freeze in the headline rate of duty for beer, cider, wine and spirits which will result in a saving of £3 billion over the next five years and a radical simplification of the duty system, reducing the main rates from 15 to 6 and taxing all products in proportion to their alcohol content.
There will also be a one year temporary business rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses set at 50%, a Small Producers Relief for cider, wine and spirits based on products below 8.5% ABV and a new lower rate for draught beer and cider, with a reduction of 5%.
Local MP Ben has been keen to support Milton Keynes' hospitality industry after the huge impact lockdowns and restrictions have had on pubs, bars and restaurants over the last two years and believes the announcements by Rishi Sunak will be a huge help.
Ben Everitt MP said: "I'm delighted with the Chancellor's announcements of support for the hospitality industry today as I know from speaking to pubs, bars and restaurants across Milton Keynes just how much they've been impacted by the pandemic.
"Pubs can be the heart of local communities and we need them to survive not only in the short-term but long into the future so that's why I backed Long Live The Local's campaign and I'm pleased to see it's been a success."
