South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay is among 68 Conservatives calling on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to cut beer duty in the upcoming Budget statement.

A letter signed by the group has been sent to the Treasury following concerted calls from the beer and pub sector for increased support, after the Prime Minister confirmed that pubs will not be able to fully reopen without trading restrictions until mid-June.

The initiative was driven by Richard Holden, MP for North West Durham, and comes as the British Beer & Pub Association says the cautious reopening of pubs will cost the sector £1.5 billion in lost trade in April alone, as 3 in 5 pubs will not be able to open or be viable with outside service only.

“Our pubs are at the heart of our communities and lockdown has hit them harder than any other sector," said Mr Mackinlay, who is also a member of the All Parliamentary Beer Group. "Whilst the government support has been welcome, it has not made up for the massive impact of being closed for so long on these vital local institutions.

“The best way for them to build back better after this crisis is to get people back into pubs and the best encouragement for publicans and the public is to see real action on beer duty.”

Mr Mackinlay and fellow campaigners point out that the UK pays £3.6 billion in Beer Duty each year - more than Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands and Ireland combined - and that British beer drinkers pay 11 times more duty on beer than those in Germany as well as Spain.

They also note that seven in ten alcoholic drinks sold in a pub are beers, and £1 in every £3 spent in a pub goes to HM Treasury in a range of taxes including Beer Duty.

So far more than 500,000 people have signed the Long Live The Local petition calling on The Government to cut Beer Duty; and more than 275,000 people have also written to their local MP asking them to urge the Chancellor to cut Beer Duty.

David Cunningham, Programme Director for Long Live The Local, added: “Each signature and email represent someone who cares deeply about pubs and breweries and wants the Government to ensure they can continue to play a vital role in their local community and economy.

“I’m pleased to see so many MPs have recognised how much their constituents want to see a cut in Beer Duty.”

Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, added: “Pubs are the heart of our communities and a vital part of the UK economy, with a presence in just about every city, town and village across the country. Amid this crisis though they face an existential threat, and thousands could be lost for good.

“It is up to the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, to deliver the support our pubs and brewers need. That includes a beer duty cut that allows them to survive and thrive in the future. I hope he listens to our sector and those on his backbenches pleading him to do the right thing.”

The Budget will be revealed on Wednesday.

Read more: All the latest news from Thanet.