Responding to the publication of the Green Party of England and Wales’ General Election manifesto, CAMRA Chairman Nik Antona said:
“CAMRA welcomes the Green Party’s continuing commitment to reducing VAT for the hospitality sector alongside their proposals to review planning regulations to protect the night-time economy and give local councils the powers to exempt socially essential local enterprises from paying business rates – which we would argue should definitely apply to pubs which are a vital part of our social fabric.
“We look forward to working with Green parliamentarians and with the next UK Government to explore how these ideas could be implemented to safeguard pubs and social clubs at the heart of community life up and down the country.
“This should include cutting the rate of VAT specifically on beer and cider sold in pubs in recognition of their community value, including for traditional ‘wet-led’ pubs that do not serve food. This would help to reduce the rate of pub and brewery closures which deprive consumers of their much-valued locals.”
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Notes to editors:
CAMRA is urging the public to contact their MP candidates in the run up to the General Election. Email your General Election candidates now with the Campaign’s e-lobby: https://action.camra.org.uk/page/151385/action/1
CAMRA’s General Election manifesto and our campaigning priorities for the next UK Government – including fairer tax, consumer rights, planning protections and better business rates for pubs – is now on our website. See our asks for the next UK Government here: https://www1.camra.org.uk/take-action/general-election-2024
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