David Heath, today welcomed the climb down on the 10% increase on cider.

The government realised that they couldn’t pass the increase on cider duty, owing to opposition from the Liberal Democrats and others.

David Heath said: “I’m delighted that this unfair hike in cider tax will not now happen, at least this side of the election. There will be a fair few jars of scrumpy raised in Somerset this evening.

“The fact is that it was always based on a mistaken idea that it would curb binge drinking. In reality the victims would have been the cider makers, the apple tree growers and the village pubs. I’m glad that the Conservatives, who had initially welcomed the tax, have changed their position and supported the Liberal Democrats in opposing this tax.”