TUC says ‘Don't Tax Black Country's Pasties'

date: 10^th April 2012

embargo: for immediate release

This week Midlands TUC will launch a campaign against four local MPs' support for the 'Pasty Tax' announced by Chancellor George Osbourne in his recent Budget. This tax will introduce VAT on previously untaxed hot take away food. This will make lunch 20% more expensive for thousands of people in the Black Country. Rosa Crawford and Zoe Parish, TUC Local Organisers comment:

'The TUC thinks it is unfair that ordinary people should have to pay more tax when they are already struggling with the impact of the Government's austerity programme. It's particularly sad that that local MPs Margot James, Chris Kelly, James Morris and Paul Uppal support the 'Pasty Tax' as it will hit their least well off constituents the hardest. This is because less well off people spend more proportionately than the wealthiest on goods that attract VAT. That's why we're asking people to join our campaign to call on their local MP to reject the Pasty Tax and support more progressive economic policies.'

Instead of taxing local people's lunches, the TUC is calling on the government to:

• Increase tax on top bonuses that are more than ten times the average salary (bonuses above £260,000)
• Introduce a Robin Hood tax on financial transactions by banks
• Crack down on tax avoidance, which could raise billions of pounds a year

Over the next ten days TUC Organisers will be leafleting members of the public in Wolverhampton, Halesowen, Stourbridge and Dudley to remind them of the impact of the Pasty Tax and to encourage them to support the TUC's campaign.

Supporters will be asked to show their support by texting 'PASTY SOS' to 85515 (texts charged at standard network rate). For more information please email: tucwestmidsaction@tuc.org.uk or follow us on Twitter @TUCWestMids.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

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- A series of TUC rights leaflets are available on our website and from the know your rights line 0870 600 4 882. Lines are open every day from 9am-9pm. Calls are charged at the national rate.

Contacts:

Media enquiries:

Rosa Crawford, T: 0121 262 6381 M: 07766820158 E: rcrawford@tuc.org.uk;

Zoe Parish T: 0121 262 6396 M: 07786515897 E: zparish@tuc.org.uk;

Rob Johnston, T: 0121 262 6383; M: 07879 497 291;E: rjohnston@tuc.org.uk;

Alan Weaver, T: 0121 262 6383; M: 07771 778 694; E: aweaver@tuc.org.uk