10% Tax on Cider Scrapped

CIDER drinkers were celebrating last night after humiliated ministers had to dump a tax grab on the drink.

The start of the election campaign has badly affected the government's remaining legislative programme. The Tories forced them to back down on plans to ramp up duty by ten percent. The opposition warned they would only pass the Budget in the Commons today if the move was ditched.

Alistair Darling's tax-grab in last month's Budget sparked a web and Twitter campaign to save the British tipple from being priced beyond drinkers' pockets. The Wurzels- who sang "I Am A Cider Drinker"- joined the backlash. But a deal was thrashed out yesterday in talks between the Treasury and shadow chief secretary Philip Hammond.

Tory leader David Cameron said: "The attack on cider drinking was misinformed and wrong. They should have copied our policy properly, which is only targeting the high-strength drinks."

He added: "This is victory for the Conservatives on day one of the election campaign. More importantly, it's a victory for cider lovers and the producers facing disaster. But the threat remains. Gordon Brown had made clear the tax will go up if he wins."

Last night Wurzels star Tommy Banner said: "It's brilliant news. Me and the band will definitely be celebrating with a few pints of cider."

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