Anne Main has continued her support for pubs by signing a petition calling for lower beer taxes.

The St Albans MP is one of more than 150,000 people to have signed the petition organised by the Long Live the Local Campaign.

The petition aims to cut beer tax as pubs are now under a range of pressures including beer duty, business rates and VAT.

The campaign is backed by Britain’s Beer Alliance, which celebrates pubs while educating people about the challenges they face including tax burden.

With £1 in every £3 pound spent in UK pubs going to tax collectors, Mrs Main is calling on the Government to cut beer tax.

Brewing and pubs in St Albans supports 1,605 jobs to the local economy.

The MP said: “Pubs are at the heart of communities across St Albans, but with three British pubs closing their doors for good every day the Government should consider a cut to beer tax.

“I’m delighted to continue to support the Long Live the Local campaign and I am calling on the Chancellor to cut beer tax at this year’s Budget to support pubs.

“Pubs are vital to our local community in St Albans and I will continue to champion them in Parliament. The government must do more to help businesses like our pubs who are unfairly impacted by the tax system.”

In 2018, there were 59 pubs in St Albans - this is two fewer than 2017. The UK is also set to lose 10 per cent of its pubs in the next five years.

British Beer and Pub Association chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: “Beer duty has increased by 60 per cent over the last 17 years and now the UK has one of the highest rates of tax in Europe.

“When over two thirds of all alcoholic drinks purchased in the pub are beers, a cut in beer tax would go a long way to protecting pubs across St Albans.

“We are very grateful to Anne Main for their support for the Long Live the Local campaign, and hope that the Government listens to MPs across Parliament and the thousands of people across the country who are calling for a cut in beer tax to protect our pubs.”