British pub week highlighted

Paul Nuttall MEP with landlady Ellie Furzeman of the The White Lion, Wigan.

The need for the Government to intervene to save the pub industry has been stressed by local MEP Paul Nuttall.

On a fact finding visit around the North West to highlight British Pub Week, Mr Nuttall, Euro-MP for UKIP, visited various pubs including popping into The White Lion, Wrightington and chatting to Ellie Furzeman, the licensee’s wife.

“It was good to see that this particular establishment has a loyal crowd of regulars and it clearly plays an important role in the local community,” said Mr Nuttall.

“But so many other pubs are struggling and many have closed and gone forever. Pubs have traditionally been at the heart of communities and it is a tragedy when they are lost.

“UKIP is the only major political party fighting to try to halt the decline and British Pub Week, which runs from October 27 – November 6, is helping highlight the need for urgent action to be taken,” he said.

“There is no simple answer but it is certainly time to re-think the smoking ban which has taken 20% off pub takings.

“Across Northern Europe common sense is prevailing and pubs and restaurants are now allowed to provide a separate smoking room. This is exactly what should be happening here, it would make such a difference,” said Mr Nuttall.

“I also think the campaign to take VAT down to 5% in pubs would actually help government revenue, not hurt it because closed pubs pay no tax at all.

“And there is no doubt that supermarkets have played a role in the demise of pubs. We want the government to get supermarkets round the table and ask them to play fairly,” he said.

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