Robin Walker, Worcester’s MP, joined the brewing community and a number of fellow Parliamentarians to celebrate two successive cuts in beer duty that have protected thousands of jobs and kept more pubs open across the UK. The event at the House of Commons was organised by the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group and provided each MP with an update as to what the beer and pubs industry does in their constituency.
The highlights for Worcester include:
93 pubs supporting over 1,500 jobs in total and over one thousand directly
5 breweries or microbreweries
460 direct jobs for 16 – 24 year olds
£20.1 million paid in wages
£51.8 million in GVA to the local economy & £17.2 million of taxes paid
Robin was presented with a certificate and souvenir pump clip by the British Beer & Pub Association and SIBA, the Society of Independent Brewers. The special award is a joint initiative from the BBPA and SIBA, who wanted to recognise the role of MPs who supported Britain’s national drink during the 2010-2015 Parliament. It recognises acts of advocacy in Parliament, in votes, supportive motions, and debates.
In particular, the award highlights Robin’s support in securing historic consecutive cuts in beer duty in the 2013 and 2014 Budgets, helping to safeguard jobs and investment, and keeping beer affordable for consumers. Robin has also worked to support pubs in his Select Committee role where the BIS Select Committee played a key part in encouraging the Government to create a new code for pub tenants and an independent adjudicator between them and the big pubcos. A member of the All Party Save the Pub Group, Robin has campaigned to get more local pubs listed and has even held a surgery in a pub.
Next Monday he will join fellow candidates for the 2015 General Election at the first of many pub hustings at the Cap & Gown pub in Barbourne Road.
Robin will be supporting a third, consecutive duty cut in this year’s Budget, as beer and pubs support more than 1,000 vital jobs in Worcester, and add millions to the local economy.
Robin Walker, Worcester’s MP said:
“Well run community pubs are a huge asset to the city and I have always sought to ensure that they have a bright future. Through reforms to business rates, the statutory code for pubs, the beer duty cuts and greater listing protections, this government has done more than any before it to stand up for the Great British pub. I want to see this continue and I think it is very appropriate that we’ll be having the first of Worcester’s hustings in a pub. I look forward to raising a glass of British beer there with my fellow candidates.”
Brigid Simmonds, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, adds:
“MPs of all parties made a huge difference in achieving the historic duty cuts in 2013 and 2014, and deserve our thanks and recognition. We are delighted to honour their contribution to this achievement. I hope even more MPs will join calls for a third duty cut in this year’s Budget on 18th March.”
Mike Benner, Managing Director of SIBA, comments:
“We are enormously grateful to the MPs whose support for British beer over recent years has created a far more optimistic outlook for our industry. As a result of the consecutive beer duty cuts, our members feel more confident about the future of British brewing and are investing in their business and creating local employment, with an estimated 1,600 new jobs in SIBA breweries last year.
“With at least one independent brewery now operating in almost every parliamentary constituency, the Beer Champions announced today will I’m sure be invited to celebrate their success in their home town, with a pint of great, locally brewed beer.”
Notes to editors:
For more detail on Robin’s support for pubs over the last six years see:
https://www.walker4worcester.com/articles/view_detail.php?id=53b168938162752acab2f4447dcbbfa0
https://www.walker4worcester.com/articles/view_detail.php?id=3a7ab5fe73dea9cbb88524586214865d
https://www.walker4worcester.com/articles/view_detail.php?id=8304544918974065bbd52a2f53cbcf98
https://www.walker4worcester.com/articles/view_detail.php?id=e51dd59d85f7b5eed3b969974933f18f
https://www.walker4worcester.com/articles/view_detail.php?id=ce22e4b08eb78d13ccd8f2c6b27b9db1
https://www.walker4worcester.com/articles/view_detail.php?id=645adbb65f9a91957934e6532fc96681
https://www.walker4worcester.com/articles/view_detail.php?id=079e7d2dfb714636fc0c0edac40ea11a
https://www.walker4worcester.com/articles/view_detail.php?id=ea7594b639d78ad277dd33a726f1eb77
https://www.walker4worcester.com/articles/view_detail.php?id=7b5c5f6e58b712310545fe86c60c93e6
https://www.walker4worcester.com/articles/view_detail.php?id=5b670338f5525490e29c4d82c7532c80