Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate has presented a special award to East Yorkshire MP Sir Greg Knight, in recognition of his support for the ‘Long Live the Local’ campaign and for also helping to secure consecutive freezes in beer duty. 

Lord Kirkhope presented Sir Greg with a unique tap handled trophy created for the occasion, on behalf of the British Beer and Pub Association.

The special award is a new 2019 initiative to recognise the role that Sir Greg and other MP’s from across the House of Commons have played in supporting British pubs over the past two years.  The award especially recognises support for successive freezes in beer duty which has secured thousands of jobs and millions of pounds worth of investment in the brewing and pub sector.

Sir Greg said ‘I am delighted to receive this award.  Brewing and pubs are vital to the local economy – especially in rural areas, where they are often the heart and soul of village life’.

Lord Kirkhope, who also backed the campaign, added: ‘The ‘Long Live the Local’ campaign has helped to focus the mind of the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the fact that many pubs are struggling and the last thing they need is to have to put prices up because of increased taxation”.

Brigid Simmonds, the Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, on whose behalf Lord Kirkhope presented the award, comments: 

‘The award recognises Sir Greg Knight’s invaluable support for the great British pub and Britain’s brewing industry.  I want to thank Greg for the work done in securing two beer duty freezes in this Parliament and for his support generally over the past two years’.