Local Conservative MP Matt Vickers has taken the Prime Minister to task over his government’s continued attacks on the great British pub industry.
“Landlords like Jason are being battered by Labour’s jobs tax and the slashing of small business rates, meaning that as many as half of Britain’s pubs could be closed by 2030”, Matt told MPs at Prime Minister’s Questions today (7th May 2025).
Rachel Reeves’ tax-grabbing Budget last autumn added an eye-watering £650m of business costs for pubs and brewers across the UK, with National Insurance changes alone expected to cost an average of £4,000 per pub each year.
Furthermore, British pubs are also suffering from rising costs, meaning a publican’s average income is now just 12p from a £4.80 pint – the average cost of a pint across the UK.
Matt has long supported our great British pubs, including launching his own Pub Awards in 2024, to celebrate outstanding pubs across Stockton-on-Tees. There are 122 pubs across Stockton on Tees, each with its own unique character and charm.
In the last Parliament, Matt lobbied the then Chancellor and later Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to extend the 75% Business Rates Relief introduced during the pandemic, saving the average independent pub over £12,000 annually. After bringing together almost 40 Conservative MPs, Matt’s campaign was a success.
However, Labour’s tax raid since coming to power has hit Britain’s pubs hard, and the number of pubs across England and Wales has now fallen below 39,000 for the first time.
Stockton West Conservative MP Matt Vickers MP said:
“Most of us would need a pint after listening to the eye-watering details of Labour’s attack on our great British pubs.
“The slashing of small business rates relief and the introduction of Labour’s jobs tax are hitting the pubs at the heart of our local communities hard.
“I want to know why Labour seems to hate our great British pubs. Despite no answer from the Prime Minister, Labour should listen - scrap the jobs tax and restore rates relief to back our local boozers.”
