KEIGHLEY MP Kris Hopkins has been thanked by the wine and spirit industry for supporting its push for jobs and growth.

He attended a reception at the House of Commons, which was held to thank MPs for helping to ensure the Alcohol Duty Escalator was abolished in the 2014 Budget.

This duty escalator, which was introduced in 2008, had been increasing the duty on alcohol by two per cent above inflation each year.

Mr Hopkins MP said: “The year-on-year, automatic increase in duty was unfair on responsible consumers and local pubs.”