The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is making its mark in the 2024 General Election by announcing its Manifesto and e-lobby campaign. As one of the UK’s most successful campaigning organisations, CAMRA is calling on its members up and down the country to lobby candidates in every constituency to make sure MPs elected in this election are committed to protecting and promoting thriving community pubs and great beer and cider.
CAMRA’s Election Manifesto outlines six key campaigning priorities, these are:
Fair tax for beer and pubs.
More rights for beer drinkers and pub goers.
Access to market for small and independent breweries and cider producers.
Recognising traditional cask ale under UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Better planning protections for pubs. [England-only]
Change the business rates system to make it fairer for pubs. [England-only]
Election campaigns are a prime opportunity for politicians to be seen pulling a pint behind the bar of their local, but this doesn’t always translate into action that supports pubs, social clubs, brewers, cider makers, and consumers. CAMRA is asking for candidates to commit to the campaigning priorities outlined in its Manifesto, and back policy and legislation that can truly help the pub trade, brewers and consumers.
To ensure that prospective MPs are pledging their support, CAMRA is enlisting its thousands of members to contact their local candidates to ask for their support for beer and pubs if elected. The e-lobby can be accessed here: https://action.camra.org.uk/page/151385/action/1
CAMRA is also providing a campaign pack for members and pub goers to promote the manifesto and e-lobby, including election guidance and social media assets. As well as this, CAMRA will be providing resources for parliamentary candidates to pledge their support for beer, pubs and CAMRA’s key campaigning asks.
As each party announces its manifesto, CAMRA will be commenting on them to let consumers know what is being offered to them. To keep up with all CAMRA comments, news and social go to our Media Centre.
For more information on CAMRA’s Manifesto, as well as other resources and campaigning efforts, go to https://camra.org.uk/take-action/general-election-2024/
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Notes to editors:
Full CAMRA Election Manifesto
Fair tax for beer and pubs.
To recognise and encourage the social benefits of consuming beer, cider and perry on licensed premises, the next Government should (i) maximise the benefits of the new draught duty rate by extending the differential and (ii) reduce VAT on beer and cider sold in the on-trade.
More rights for beer drinkers and pub goers.
The next Government should introduce legislation to make sure consumers have access to information about ingredients, production and provenance (including the brewery origin and brand ownership), dispense and price at the point of sale.
Access to market for small and independent breweries and cider producers.
The next Government should support legislative and regulatory changes to open up market access for small and independent beer and cider makers, to counter the effects of mergers and acquisitions that are closing the UK pub market to new entrants and limiting consumer choice.
Better planning protections for pubs.
The next Government should improve planning protection and enforcement to prevent viable and valued pubs and social clubs being lost to unfair or unwanted demolition or conversion without serious and consistent consequences – including the power to order pubs to be rebuilt brick by brick if necessary. [England only]
Change the business rates system to make it fairer for pubs.
To recognise the community value of pubs, the next Government should undertake a full review of business rates in England to fix the unfair overpayment by the pub sector permanently and to account properly for equalisation of tax burdens between land-based and online business. [England only]
Recognition of the importance of cask ale
Cask ale is a world-renowned traditional British product that can only be enjoyed in a pub, social club or taproom. Cask is part of the UK’s proud brewing heritage and should be recognised and celebrated by government and MPs. The next Government should give their backing to the bid for cask ale to be recognise by UNESCO as an example of intangible cultural heritage.
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