Ben Everitt, the MP for Milton Keynes North, is backing a campaign to support pubs by cutting taxes and has launched his first ever Milton Keynes North Pub Of The Year competition.
Brewing and pubs in Ben’s constituency support 2,092 jobs and contribute £61 million to the local economy and he is supporting Long Live The Local’s petition to look at support for pubs including lowering VAT, business rates and an overall cut to beer duty.
As well as this Ben has set up a Pub Of The Year competition to help promote local pubs in the area, with a winner set to be announced later this year.
You can vote for your favourite local by heading to his website beneveritt.com before 30th November.
Ben commented: “Pubs are at the heart of communities across Milton Keynes North, but with pubs bearing a disproportionate burden as a result of the pandemic the Government should consider cutting unfair taxes on pubs that are hampering their recovery.
“We need to support the recovery of our local pubs and I’m pleased to have announced by Pub Of The Year competition which will help publicise our locals and get people talking about pubs.”
Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, added: “85% 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% are under 25. Cutting Business Rates, VAT and an overall reduction in Beer Duty would go a long way to helping pubs and brewers across Milton Keynes North that are desperately trying to recover.
“We are very grateful to Ben Everitt for their support for the Long Live the Local campaign, and hope that the Government listens to MPs across Parliament and the thousands of people across the country who are calling on the Chancellor to lower VAT & Business Rates for pubs and reduce Beer Duty overall.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on brewers and pubs throughout the UK and continues to do so as the sector tries to kickstart its recovery.
Currently £1 in every £3 spent in UK pubs is going to the taxman and the fact a local pub adds £100,000 to its local economy, creates jobs and acts as a social hub, underlines how directly investment in the form of lower VAT, Business Rates and an overall cut to beer duty can help pubs and their communities to recover.
It will also boost Britain’s world class brewing sector, a homegrown manufacturing success story that brews over 80% of the beer we drink.
