Reform says pubs have been ‘pushed to brink of extinction’ below the Tories as bitter disagreement breaks out over the best way to save Britain’s boozers

Pubs were ‘driven to the brink of extinction’ under the Conservatives, according to Reform UK, as a bitter war of words erupted over Britain’s boozers.

Nigel Farage’s party hit back after the Tories said his plans to save the industry with a series of eye-catching tax cuts were based on ‘fantasy numbers’.

A spokesman for Reform said the Tories would be ‘better off apologising’ for the more than 10,000 pubs allegedly closed on its watch.

Mel Stride with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch

The row came as the two parties clash over how to save Britain’s beleaguered pubs from a fresh onslaught of tax hikes under the current Labour government. 

Both parties see it as fertile ground amid a furious backlash against Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ botched business rates reforms that have seen publicans facing soaring tax bills ban Labour MPs from their premises.

Mr Farage has vowed to cut VAT in the hospitality sector to 10 per cent and beer duty by 10 per cent.

He has also promised to reverse the recent rise in employers’ National Insurance contributions (NICs) for the industry and slowly remove business rates for all pubs.

But Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride has accused Reform of having ‘no explanation’ of how it would pay for its policies.

Reform insists it would raise the £3billion it says the moves would cost by reinstating the two-child benefit cap.

And the plans have won the backing of two of Britain’s biggest pub chains – Fuller’s and JD Wetherspoon.

A Reform spokesman told the Mail: ‘Under Conservatives, pubs were driven to the brink of extinction through punitive taxation and sky high energy costs. 

‘Their current plans clearly don’t go nearly far enough to save British pubs while Reform UK’s have been welcomed by two of Britain’s biggest pub operators.

‘Minor party Mel would be better off apologising for the 10,400 pubs which closed under the Tories.’

Reform claimed that 10,400 pubs closed under the Tory government, which was in power between May 2010 and July 2024.

The number of pubs and bars fell from 44,680 in March 2010 to 37,875 in March 2024, according to official Government statistics.

This means that there were 6,805 fewer pubs after new and reopened sites were taken into account. The number of closures is probably higher.

Nigel Farage has vowed to cut taxes to save British pubs

JD Wetherspoon boss Sir Tim Martin, who runs around 800 pubs, said that: ‘Reform is streets ahead in its pubs policy.’

His remarks echoed those of Fuller’s boss Simon Emeny, who said Reform’s plans come after what ‘has been probably the best part of 20 years of government failure towards pubs’.

But Sir Mel hit back over the promises, declaring: ‘More fantasy numbers from Reform.’

He said the pledges would ‘blow a £10billion hole in the public finances’ and were ‘totally irresponsible’. 

He added: ‘Their sums just don’t add up. How can anyone trust a word Reform say if they won’t explain where any of it comes from?’

The Conservatives last year pledged to scrap business rates for most shops, pubs and leisure businesses – which they said would be predominantly paid for by a crackdown on welfare spending.

Reform has been vying for publicans’ backing after Labour was forced to water down planned business rates rise for pubs and music venues.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves last month announced a 15 per cent discount on pubs’ bills after a furious reaction to her Budget, which saw 1,500 publicans ban Labour MPs from their premises.

Although pubs will now receive help on business rates, they are still struggling with higher costs, including wages and alcohol duty.