We don't love you, Darling

CHANCELLOR Alistair Darling has been banned from the Calveley Arms in Handley, Chester, following his "anti-pub" budget.

Licensee Harry Miller has written to Darling informing him that he is no longer welcome and has put up a poster, which states "We hereby give notice that Alistair Darling, Chancellor of the Exchequer, is barred from this pub until further notice".

The Calveley Arms is one of hundreds of pubs taking direct action against Darling as part of a national campaign supported by pub industry bible the Morning Advertiser.

Harry MillerŠ said: "By adding 4p to a pint of beer and promising to raise duty 2% above inflation for the next four years, Darling will be solely responsible for the closure of a record number of pubs,

"The budget will drive people away from the supervised environment of the pub and into the arms of the deep discounting supermarkets.

"The supermarkets can afford to take the increases on board, so their rock bottom prices will continue as will binge drinking and youths downing alcohol on street corners and in parks.

"The earliest predictions from Goldman Sachs point to a 10% drop in trade at the average pub since the smoking ban came into effect on 1 July last year.

"We are also suffering from rising utility costs, wholesale beer price increases and the cheap and irresponsible deals being offered on alcohol in the supermarkets.

"The trade is on its knees and asked the Chancellor for help but instead he has hammered the final nail in the coffin of the British pub.

"As the poet Hilaire Belloc said: 'When you have lost your inns, drown your empty selves, for you will have lost the last of England."