LABOR last night promised new powers to protect boozers at risk of closure – and a hinted beer tax will be frozen.
Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves has unveiled a five-point plan to save traditional pubs.
It comes after 80 last orders were called in the first three months of this year.
Communities will be given strong new ‘right to buy’ to buy beloved assets and business rates will be replaced with a fairer system.
Mrs Reeves said: “The British love our locals.
“Let’s support our landlords to keep our pubs going.”
She added: “We want to save the British pub because I know what an important institution they are in so many communities.”
She chatted to customers, and even pulled out a pint, at The Humble Plumb yesterday as she hit the campaign trail in the Southampton Itchen constituency, which is 46th on Sir Keir Starmer’s Labor Party target list.
She outlined her plans, which also include tackling anti-social behavior with more police on the streets.
An additional 350 banking centers will be available in town centers to provide greater access to services and Great British Energy’s plans will help reduce bills, she added.
Labor will step in to stop pubs being boarded up by giving communities a new right to buy.
Ms Reeves also gave the strongest hint yet that beer tax could be frozen when she presents her first budget if elected this autumn.
Jeremy Hunt extended the freeze in the spring thanks to The Sun’s Save Our Sups campaign, but it is due to expire next February.
Ms Reeves said: “The Sun has done the right thing by spearheading this campaign.”
Yesterday was the 200th anniversary of the Weights and Measures Act which defined the British pint.
The British Beer and Pub Association tweeted: “Yesterday we marked the 200th anniversary of the pint, today Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves is backing our and The Sun’s campaign to #SaveOurSups with a promise to reform unfair trade rates and hint at a beer tax freeze.”
The UK Spirits Alliance, which supports more than 280 distilleries and pub owners, said: “Politicians need to recognize that pubs are about more than pints. A third of all alcoholic beverages served in pubs are spirits, yet they are taxed the highest.
“Currently a whopping 80% of every bottle of gin goes to the taxman. This election it’s important that all politicians support our iconic British spirits industry to protect pubs at home and help boost exports abroad.”
Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, said: “It is essential that the next government recognizes and appreciates the economic importance of the UK’s wine and spirits industry, and not just beer.
“The hospitality sector supports over 60% of the 413,000 jobs in the UK wine and spirits trade.
“The next government should do more to support the hospitality sector and encourage growth – by replacing business rates, keeping wine tax at one flat rate and freezing alcohol duty – which history shows is a win for consumers, businesses, hospitality and the Treasury .” “
Graeme Littlejohn, director of strategy for the Scotch Whiskey Association, said: “The pint that Rachel Reeves drinks contains 2.3 units of alcohol, more than double that of Scotch whiskey – but the pint is taxed 40% less than Scotland’s national drink.
“Pubs are more than boats in the front, they rely on spirits in the back.
“The next government needs to look again at the inherent unfairness embedded in the alcohol tax system and support our global spirits sector led by Scotch whisky.
“A good start would be to reverse the hugely damaging 10% rise in alcohol taxes last August, which is losing the Exchequer £15m a month on spirits alone.”