Henry Smith MP has pledged his support for the Long Live the Local campaign to help pubs keep their doors open.

The Crawley MP joins the more than 100,000 people who have signed the petition so far, including 160 in the town.

Henry said;

“Pubs are at the heart of communities across Crawley, but with three British pubs closing their doors for good every day the Government should consider a cut to beer tax.

“I’m supporting the Long Live the Local campaign and calling on the Chancellor to cut beer tax at this year’s Budget to support pubs in our local communities.”

With £1 in every £3 spent in UK pubs going to the taxman, British drinkers now pay 40 per cent of all beer tax across the EU, but drink only 12 per cent of the beer. Brewing and pubs in Crawley supports 1,424 jobs and contributes £34.4 million to the local economy per year.

Brigid Simmonds, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said:

“Beer duty has increased by 60 per cent over the last 17 years and now the UK has one of the highest rates of tax in Europe. When over two thirds of all alcoholic drinks purchased in the pub are beers, a cut in beer tax would go a long way to protecting pubs across Crawley.

“We are very grateful to Henry Smith MP for his support for the Long Live the Local campaign, and hope that the Government listens to MPs across Parliament and the thousands of people across the country who are calling for a cut in beer tax to protect our pubs.”