‘The government needs to take us seriously’: Pub landlords brew plans to bar MPs – again

Pub landlords across the country are poised to launch a fresh ban on hundreds of MPs after a campaign to cut VAT on hospitality fell on deaf ears in the House of Commons. Andy Lennox, who led a ban on Labour MPs following the surge in business rates bills caused by last year’s Budget, told City AM landlords are on the verge of launching a new movement to bar politicians. He said any new action, which would include thousands of pubs across the UK, would ban every MP who has not shown public support to a cut for VAT for hospitality firms.    Lennox said: ”There is so much anger out in the industry at the moment and following the Budget there have been a number of comments made by Treasury ministers and actions by the Chancellor that just show there is zero respect for our industry and for what we do.” Pub, bar and restaurant bosses had been urging the government to halve VAT to 10 per cent in a campaign led by celebrity chef Tom Kerridge. But John Healey opted not to he