MP calls for a round of tax breaks for pubs

Sarah Bool told MPs there were 95 pubs in her constituency

With a week to go before the Labour government's first budget, an MP has called for tax breaks for pubs.

Sarah Bool, elected in July as Conservative MP for South Northamptonshire, said pubs were essential to local communities.

She wanted to see a VAT cut for the hospitality industry and an extension of the freeze on alcohol duty.

The Treasury said it was "supporting businesses like our well-loved pubs".

During a debate in Westminster Hall on the pub and hospitality sector, Sarah Bool told MPs that her South Northamptonshire constituency had 95 pubs and four breweries.

She said: "They support 1,950 jobs, generate £26m in tax and contribute £48m to the local economy."

She went on to describe a visit to the White Hart in Hackleton, south-east of Northampton, where she found out what it would mean for the community if the hostelry had to call "time" permanently.

Sarah Bool told MPs "we cannot underestimate the power of the community" fostered by pubs

Ms Bool added: "We cannot underestimate the power of the community that is created and fostered in rural areas around the local pub.

"With the lack of bus services and wider issues around transport, it can be a source of truly local employment for some villagers."

She talked about another pub that had taken on a local girl with Down's syndrome, with the job helping her develop "professional and social skills".

Sarah Bool said she visited the White Hart in Hackleton to find out what life at a village pub was like

Along with a cut in VAT and the continuation of the alcohol duty freeze, Ms Bool also called for an extension of the 75% business rate relief for the hospitality sector.

The duty freeze is due to end next February and the business rate relief is also slated to finish in 2025.

Sarah Bool mentioned four breweries in her speech - one being Towcester Mill, which has a beer that has been served at the Houses of Parliament

The Treasury told the BBC: "We're supporting businesses like our well-loved pubs through pledges to make the business rates system fairer, cap corporation tax at 25% and to publish a business tax roadmap, so that they have some welcome certainty to plan for the future.”

Ms Bool ended her speech by saying that pubs were the centre of life in soap operas like EastEnders, and "we must make sure the scriptwriters don't have to change their scenes if we destroy this industry".