Cheers

Two constituents visited me in Parliament last week in support of the Campaign for Real Ale's mission to end the Beer Duty Escalator – a mechanism that sees beer tax increase annually by 2% above inflation.

On an average pub pint, duty and VAT already account for a third of the price and this is undoubtedly affecting pub trade — 4,800 pubs have closed since 2008 and this is an especially serious situation in rural areas where the pub is often the last community hub in the village or hamlet.

I always take points made by constituents who visit me in Westminster especially seriously, but with this visit my friends were pushing at an open door.

Earlier this year I promoted a petition across the pubs in Central Devon pressing the Chancellor to reduce the level of duty on beer and I have also done what I can in the constituency to show my personal support for pubs by holding advice surgeries within them, celebrating and supporting their success — the very first duty I undertook as a newly elected MP was to celebrate a constituency CAMRA Award — and earlier this month I dropped into the Tom Cobley in Spreyton to wish landlord Roger Cudlip success in the finals of the 2012 Pub of Year for which the Cobley is in the final four.

I assured my Westminster visitors that I will continue to do what I can to keep lobbying the Treasury for greater support for the great British pub.

With Christmas and the New Year upon us please pop in to your local and support them. Pubs have been an important part of our culture for a very long time and they matter. Happy Christmas!

For more news and comment from Mel Stride MP please visit http://www.melstridemp.com">www.melstridemp.com