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KEIR FOR THE BEERS
Boost to pubs as Labour promises new powers to protect closure-threatened boozers — and hints beer duty will be frozen
Ms Reeves said: 'Brits love our locals. Let’s back our landlords to keep our pubs going'
LABOUR last night promised new powers to protect closure-threatened boozers — and hinted beer duty will be frozen.
Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled a five-point plan to save traditional pubs.
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It comes after 80 called last orders in the first three months of this year.
Strong new “right to buy” powers will be given to communities to purchase beloved assets and business rates will be replaced with a fairer system.
Ms Reeves said: “Brits love our locals.
“Let’s back our landlords to keep our pubs going.”
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She added: “We want to save the British pub because I know what an important institution they are in so many communities.”
She spoke to customers, and even pulled a pint, at The Humble Plumb yesterday as she hit the campaign trail in the Southampton Itchen constituency, which is 46th on the target list of Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party.
She outlined her plans which also include tackling anti-social behaviour with more police on the streets.
An extra 350 banking hubs will be available in town centres to give more access to services and plans for Great British Energy will help reduce bills, she added.
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Labour will step in to stop pubs being boarded up by giving communities new right-to-buy powers.
Ms Reeves also gave the strongest hint yet that beer duty could be frozen when, if elected, she unveils her first Budget this autumn.
Save Our Sups: We're not here for the 0% beer
Jeremy Hunt extended the freeze in the spring thanks to The Sun’s Save Our Sups campaign, but that is due to expire next February.
Ms Reeves said: “The Sun has been right to spearhead this campaign.”
Yesterday was the 200th anniversary of the Weights and Measures Act, which defined the British pint.
The British Beer and Pub Association tweeted: "Yesterday, we marked the 200th anniversary of the pint, today Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves supports our and The Sun campaign to by pledging reform of unfair business rates & hinting at a beer tax freeze."
The UK Spirits Alliance, who support over 280 distillers and pub landlords said: “Politicians need to realise that pubs are more than just pints. A third of all alcoholic drinks served in a pub are spirits, yet they are taxed the highest.
"A whopping 80% of each bottle of gin currently goes to the taxman. At this election, it is important all politicians back our iconic British spirits industry to protect pubs at home and help grow exports abroad”.
Miles Beale, Chief Executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, said: “It is essential that the next Government recognises and values the economic importance of the UK’s wine and spirit sector and it's not just about beer.
"The hospitality sector supports over 60% of the 413,000 jobs in the UK's wine and spirit trade.
"The next Government should do more to support the hospitality sector and encourage growth - by replacing business rates, keeping wine duties at one fixed amount and freezing alcohol duty - which history shows is a win win for consumers, businesses, hospitality and the Treasury."
Graeme Littlejohn, Director of Strategy at the Scotch Whisky Association said: “The pint Rachel Reeves is pulling contains 2.3 units of alcohol, more than a double Scotch Whisky – but the pint is subject to 40% less tax than Scotland’s national drink.
“Pubs are about more than the pumps at the front, they rely on the spirits at the back.
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"The next government must look again at the inherent unfairness embedded in the alcohol duty system, and support our world class spirits sector, led by Scotch Whisky.
"A good place to start would be to reverse the hugely damaging 10% tax hike on alcohol last August, which is losing the Treasury £15m a month on spirits alone.”
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