Jeremy Clarkson bans hundreds of Labour MPs from his pub
Mr Clarkson has joined hundreds of other landlords in banning Labour MPs from their pubs
Jeremy Clarkson is the latest landlord to ban hundreds of Labour MPs from his pub in response to the Chancellor's budget.
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The former Top Gear presenter had already banned Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer when The Farmer’s Dog opened last year.
At the time, he said: “He hasn’t done much to endear himself to me yet. He’s actually on a board in the hall — he’s banned.”
The latest move - blocking the entire party from visiting the venue - is to protest against tax rises in the Budget.
His annual business rates have apparently soared from £28,000 to more than £50,000.
Read more: Publicans ‘petrified’ over closures and job cuts after Budget tax increases
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Mr Clarkson said: “I was well ahead of the curve when I banned Starmer. Every Labour MP is barred now.
“Our annual business rates have gone up astronomically from something like £28,000 to well over £50,000. It is a disgrace.”
The only Labour MP not to have been banned from Mr Clarkson's pub is Markus Campbell-Savours, who represents the Penrith and Solway constituency, who he says is "welcome any time".
Industry leaders have said they are “petrified” over the impact of impending tax hikes announced as part of the Budget.
The British Beer and Pub Association has called on the Government to introduce 30 per cent business rates relief specifically for pubs to help protect the future of businesses across the UK.
Pub bosses have warned that higher business rates could lead to as many as 15,000 job losses and hundreds of closures.
The Chancellor announced a current 40 per cent discount for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses – which is capped at £110,000 per business – will end on March 31 next year.
This will be replaced by a new system from the next financial year, which will see rates multipliers for retail, hospitality and leisure firms set 5p lower than the standard rate with no cap in support.
The Government also launched a £3.2 billion scheme of transitional relief to cap annual rises.
However, trade groups and tax experts have suggested the change and an increase in rateable values for most pubs will result in a significant annual increase.