MP Cox slams tax on Devon Cider Makers

Geoffrey Cox has today on almost the last day of this parliament written to the Treasury urging the incoming Chancellor of the Exchequer to review Alistair Darling's misguided budget strike at Devon's small cider makers.

Geoffrey Cox, MP for Torridge and West Devon, has today on almost the last day of this parliament written to the Treasury urging the incoming Chancellor of the Exchequer to review Alistair Darling's misguided budget decision to strike at Devon's small cider makers with a 10% increase in duty. The MP said that the new Chancellor would find the letter in his in tray on his arrival.

Geoffrey Cox said: "We have several small high quality traditional cider makers in Torridge and West Devon, such as Countryman Cider of Milton Abbott and the Winkleigh Cider Company. It makes no sense to target their excellent products at the same level as high strength "white" ciders. I hope that we can look again at this tax on traditional West Country Scrumpy that I, like many others, have enjoyed since a boy."