Tories pledge cheaper beer

Portillo: 30p off a pint of weak beer

Shadow chancellor Michael Portillo has said that a Conservative government would slash the duty on low-alcohol beers and lagers.

Speaking at the Publican Conference in London, Mr Portillo said the Tories would consider cutting the duty on all beers and lagers under 2.4% strength from 38p to just 8p a pint.

He also told more than 300 delegates from Britain's pub industry that a Conservative government would make sweeping reforms to VAT as well as cutting "red tape".

Pubs, he said, would also be allowed to have maximum jackpot gaming machines which are currently only permitted in social clubs, although he denied that it was just a cheap ruse to collect more tax.

Instead, he promised that the extra revenue generated would be ploughed back into the industry.

Other priorities would include listening to the thoughts of landlords on future extensions to opening hours, and considering whether magistrates should keep their powers to grant and strip publicans of their licences.

'White rabbit'

A white paper being prepared by the current government was believed to contain proposals to hand licensing powers to local authorities instead.

Mr Portillo said: "It seems regrettable that this white rabbit, the white paper, seems to be just for show. There also seems no possibility that it could be implemented before 2002."

Mr Portillo congratulated the industry on the way it has adapted to changing trends in society over the last few years.

"Gone are the days when pubs were regarded as a place only for manual labourers or just for men," he said.

"It has become more friendly to women, to families and is not scared of the gay market or the pink pound.

"You are doing that not because of the government but in spite of the government."

Mr Portillo also unveiled the findings of a survey into publicans' voting habits, which revealed that support for his party within the industry was not as strong as in previous years.