Hugh Robertson supports campaign to 'Save The Great British Pub' and highlights impact on Kent

Hugh Robertson, the MP for Faversham and Mid Kent, has today pledged his support for the campaign to Save The Great British Pub - a campaign now officially backed by The Conservative Party.

This will have considerable implications for Faversham – where Shepherd Neame is based and there are a large number of both pubs and jobs dependent on the brewing industry.

Three elements of the campaign will particularly help Kent. They are:

1) The commitment to cut excise duty on beer and raise it on alcopops and high strength ciders. This will particularly help Kent brewers and licensees who suffer from the disparity in duty rates with cross channel destinations.

2) The commitment to cut regulation affecting licensed premises – which has been one of the key drivers in pub closures.

3) The commitment to develop pubs as a hub for the local community – such as has happened in a number of Kent villages.

Hugh Robertson said, “It is a horrifying statistic that 33% of the cost of every pint of beer goes to The Chancellor in excess duty. It partially explains why 6 pubs are closing every day.

The duty rate has to be adjusted so that responsible drinking of beer in pubs is encouraged whilst the irresponsible consumption of artificially high alcohol drinks and alcopops is penalised. Kent’s brewing industry urgently needs help and signing up, as The Conservative Party have done, to the ‘Save The Great British Pub’ Campaign is an excellent start.”