CAMRA welcomes proposals in Green Party manifesto

Released Wednesday 12 June, the party pledged to reduce VAT for the hospitality sector as well as review planning regulations.

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CAMRA​ national 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. 

Safeguard pubs

Reducing the rate of VAT, specifically on beer and cider sold in pubs, would “recognise their community value”, especially for wet-led venues, and help reduce the rate of closures across the sector, the chairman added

The manifesto asserted small businesses were the “lifeblood” of the nation’s economy, pledging to increase minimum wage to £15 per hour, regardless of age, with costs to small businesses offset by reducing their National Insurance payments.

It also pledged to press for regional mutual banks, £2bn per year in grant funding for local authorities to help businesses decarbonise and encourage community ownership through greater access to Government funding in the transition to zero-carbon.

Antona continued: “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.”

Key asks

Earlier this week, the Conservative party also released its manifesto ahead of the election of Thursday 4 July, which CAMRA described as “encouraging”.

The Tory manifesto​ claimed the party would launch a review of the night-time economy in England, looking at how to reverse the decline in pubs and clubs numbers.

Moreover, it also stated the Brexit Pubs Guarantee, which was implemented in August last year, would be maintained as the party claimed the duty on drinks on draught would be less than in the off-trade.

CAMRA also recently outlined its key asks of the new Government​, including “fairer” taxes for brewers and pubs, better planning protection for pubs and business rates reformation.