MPs fight pub taxes

PHILIP Hammond is facing new calls to cut the tax rates crippling pubs – now closing at a rate of 21 a week.

About 50 MPs are urging the Chancellor to freeze beer duty and give locals an annual £ 50,000 business rate relief package.

They put their demands in a letter to him ahead of the Budget on November 22 amid fears he is planning another hike in beer duty.

The Campaign for Real Ale, which backs the plea, said: “Pubs can’t continue to shoulder their £13billiona-year tax burden.”

The number of locals has fallen from 67,800 to below 52,000 in 35 years, leading our sister paper the Sunday Mirror to launch its Save Our Pub campaign.