Angela Rayner has pledged support for the Long Live The Local Campaign to help pubs in Ashton keep their doors open.

More than 100,000 people have signed the petition so far, including 202 in Ashton.

Angela is calling on the Government to cut beer tax at the Budget. With £1 in every £3 spent in UK pubs going to the taxman, British drinkers now pay 40% of all beer tax across the EU, but drink only 12% of the beer.

Brewing and pubs in Ashton support 1161 jobs and contributes £24.6m to the local economy.

Commenting on the campaign, Angela said: “Pubs are at the heart of communities across Ashton, but with three British pubs closing their doors for good every day the Government should consider a cut to beer tax. I’m supporting the Long Live The Local campaign and calling on the Chancellor to cut beer tax at this year’s Budget to support pubs in our local communities.

“Labour’s 2017 General Election Manifesto committed to setting up a national review of local pubs to examine the causes for their decline, as well as establishing a joint taskforce that will consider their future sustainability.”

Brigid Simmonds, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, added: “Beer duty has increased by 60% 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 Ashton-under-Lyne. We are very grateful to Angela Rayner for supporting the Long Live The Local campaign, and hope that the Government listens to MPs across Parliament and the tens of thousands of people across the country who are calling for a cut in beer tax to protect our pubs.”