Commenting on Labour’s announcement of a five-point plan to “end the decline of British locals” Nik Antona, CAMRA Chairman, said:
“We’re delighted to see that Labour have recommitted to their policy on introducing a genuine community right to buy.
“This measure will strengthen the powers available to communities to save their local pubs and prevent unscrupulous developers from pricing out local community groups that want to buy their local.
“Beer duty is still too high in the UK, and it’s great to see a prospective Chancellor recognise the importance of campaigns to lower this burden. CAMRA supports a reduction in draught beer and cider duty, to incentivise the production of cask beer and encourage people to drink beer in the on-trade.
“If elected, we hope that the Labour party implement these plans as soon as possible to protect pubs from closure and give consumers choice at a fair price.
“The Labour manifesto also included a commitment to change the outdated business rates system to make it fairer between online enterprises and bricks and mortar businesses like pubs, which are massively penalised in the current system.
“We recognise that this would take longer to implement, and any changed system must make sure that pubs no longer pay a disproportionate share of rates and that a new, fairer business rate regime recognises their community value to help keep our locals open and thriving as a vital part of our social fabric.”
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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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