pASTY lovers can celebrate after the Government announced a U-turn on the controversial pasty tax this week.
Chancellor George Osborne has decided that as long as hot takeaway food is cooling naturally, it will not be subject to 20 per cent VAT as previously planned.
But customers could still be expected to pay up to 50p more for snacks kept on a hot plate or heated in the microwave.
Bassetlaw MP John Mann welcomed the reversal of the pasty tax which he branded ‘ridiculous.”
“It was inevitable but Mr Osborne should never have got himself into this mess in the first place,” he said.
“It just shows how out of touch he is with everybody - it was a ludicrous proposal and totally unworkable.”
Mr Mann also challenged the Government to reverse their plans for other cost-cutting policies.
“Now Mr Osborne should review his other economic policies which are doing a lot of damage to our area, such as cuts to our ambulance service and front-line police officers,” he said.
“I would also challenge Mr Osborne to spend some time in a caravan by the seaside and see how normal people live. I would happily cook him and David Cameron a BBQ.
High street baker Greggs does not reheat food and is celebrating the news as it will no longer be forced to increase prices and cut staff.
Its shares, which plunged by 15 per cent, when the tax was announced in March, have jumped up 30p with this week’s news.