Herne Bay MP Roger Gale has called on the government to cut taxes on beer.

He joined an all-party group of MPs at the infamous Red Lion pub in Whitehall to back the British Beer and Pub Association’s Axe The Tax campaign.

He said: “As a result of the smoking ban and high taxation the british draught beer and pub industry is under severe and sustained pressure.

“On-sales of beer are now at their lowest level for 40 years and in the region of 39 pubs are closing every week.

“In many villages and towns the British pub is at the centre of community life and a vital ingedient in our domestic tourism offer.

“We simply cannot afford to see this industry and the thousands of jobs dependent upon it weakened further.”

According to Mr Gale, last year the government raised beer tax by 18 per cent and plans an over-inflation increase for this year.