An MP has repeated his plea for the annual beer tax to be scrapped.

Greg Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West), who chairs the All Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group, made the call during Treasury questions in the House of Commons.

Mr Mulholland (pictured) repeated his belief that getting rid of the beer duty escalator would help brewery investment and employment, and assist pubs.

He said: “It has been evident to see that as a result of the reduced duty under the Small Breweries Relief we now have a thriving brewing industry, with more than 1,000 breweries in the UK, the most the UK has seen for over 70 years.

“I urge the chancellor to make a vote of confidence in Britain’s brewers by scrapping the beer duty escalator in the budget on March 20.”