Conservative pressure wins Cider Tax U-turn

Anne Marie Morris, Prospective Conservative MP for Newton Abbot, has welcomed Labour’s climb-downs over taxes on rural Britain, after pressure from the Conservatives forced them to scrap measures aimed at raising millions from cider drinkers and holiday homes.

Alistair Darling's decision to increase duty on all cider by 10 per cent above inflation in last month's Budget was met with anger across the Westcountry. The move was included in the Finance Bill and was due to pass through the Commons today as part of the ‘wash-up’ series of bills that go through before dissolution. The rise will no now go through until a Second Finance Bill in June.

The Conservatives vowed to drop the hike, focusing instead on super-strength beers, super-strength ciders and alcopops linked to binge drinkers, in an emergency budget held should they win the election.

Anne Marie said: “Our Conservative Future group led the local fight on the cider tax, collecting over 1,200 signatures in local pubs, so we’re all celebrating this great news.

“Scrapping tax breaks on holiday homes would have put £1.3 billion in tourism income in the South West at risk – at a time when Teignbridge desperately needs more visitors. It was a foolish move and one that is rightly on the backburner.

“It’s certain that if Labour get back in though, these taxes will come back – and the only way to get rid of Labour is to vote Conservative in the new constituency of Newton Abbot.”