Licensees' stories to be heard at Darling meeting
Licensees will have their voices heard at a potentially groundbreaking meeting with Alistair Darling before the Budget.
For the first time in at least a decade the five major drinks industry trade groups have secured a meeting with the Chancellor ahead of a Budget in a bid to stop crippling duty hikes.
And the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has agreed to take correspondence from Publican readers directly to the Chancellor.
Mark Hastings, the BBPA's communications director, said: "It's vitally important that the voice of licensees is heard loud and clear by the Chancellor.
"They need their government to recognise the considerable economic and social value pubs provide and support them.
"We're not asking for a taxpayer handout. All we are saying is don't make our tax burden any worse and don't tie us up in yet more red tape. The time for action is now."
And licensees will be keen to get their points across.
Andy Brooks, licensee at the Laughing Fish in Uckfield, West Sussex, said the meeting was "an excellent opportunity that licensees have to take advantage of".
He added: "We have to be constructive and get across to the Chancellor that many pubs are a vital community service.
"We need to show clearly that the government's policies are putting so many pubs out of business."
Hayley Comradi, licensee of the Riverside Inn in Bradford-upon-Avon, said: "They have been crippling us year on year with tax increases and now the banks are not lending to us at all. If they don't do something soon the local pub will just disappear."
A date for the meeting has yet to be set but a letter sent to the BBPA from the Treasury said that Darling and Treasury minister Angela Eagle would be willing to discuss "the state of the pub industry and the forthcoming Budget" with the groups.
Chiefs from the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, the Gin and Vodka Association, National Association of Cider Makers and the Scotch Whisky Association will also attend.
News of the meeting came last week as it emerged that 121 MPs have signed a Parliamentary motion backing the industry's Axe the Beer Tax - Save the Pub campaign.
More than 20,000 people have also signed up to the campaign's Facebook page.
The date of the Budget has today been confirmed as April 22.
Dish it to Darling with The Publican
The Publican will pass all letters and emails from licensees on the issue of tax hikes and the burden of red tape to the Brt who will in turn present it to the Chancellor.
Get in touch by emailing news@thepublican.com or by writing to The Publican News Desk, Ludgate House, 245 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 9UY
