Bradford MP and Licencing Minister Gerry Sutcliffe last night insisted he fully supported alcohol tax hikes announced in the Budget, after it was claimed he said they were wrong.

The Bradford South MP was reported as telling trade magazine The Morning Advertiser that the industry was "right to be upset" about the changes announced by Alistair Darling last month.

Alcohol duty was raised in the budget but Mr Darling also said it would go up by two per cent above inflation in each of the next four years - a move which has led to him being banned from various pubs up and down the country.

The paper reported Mr Sutcliffe as saying: "We, and I speak as a champion of the pub trade, want the Chancellor to change his mind. We've had examples like the fuel levy where the impact on a sector has been massive - and the decision has been deferred.

"I'm not saying that will happen, but that's where the trade needs to focus the basis of its argument. The next opportunity will be the pre-Budget report in November. But the industry has seriously got to get its act together in working out what its priorities are."

But Mr Sutcliffe told the Telegraph & Argus that selective parts of a comment had been taken out, and the discussion was a wider, more complex issue.

He said: "I said I could understand the industry being upset, but banning Alistair Darling was not the way of sorting it. I fully support the Chancellor's tax proposals and I will help the industry look at the problems it faces."

The Bradford MP said the tax rises will go towards helping some of the poorest members of our society.

He later issued a statement re-iterating his position saying: "My comments do not accurately reflect my views."

Treasury Financial Secretary Jane Kennedy last night jumped to Mr Sutcliffe's defence.

She said: "We are part of a Government in which there is a lively discussion about all of these issues. And it demonstrates just how much people are aware of how people's incomes are being affected.

"Clearly he is able to make his point of view and we'll pursue that, but we will agree across Government, as we have done and as we presented at the Budget, and we will take those proposals forward."