MP condemns alcohol duty defeat (From The Westmorland Gazette)

MP condemns alcohol duty defeat

4:45pm Thursday 9th July 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

WESTMORLAND and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron has slammed yesterday’s defeat in the House of Commons on the vote to reduce duty on alcohol as “a real blow” to the pub industry.

“This is a very disappointing result and a real blow to the pub industry,” said Mr Farron. “Increasing the beer duty will only lead to more community pubs losing customers and being forced to close down.

“In South Lakeland, our local pubs are at the heart of our communities. They are forced to compete against cheap supermarket drink, and now the Government are increasing their burden even more. I wanted the Government to reduce alcohol duty and it is a huge disappointment that most MPs voted to keep high levels of duty."