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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'Whisky sour' claim after Budget | 'Whisky sour' claim after Budget |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The chancellor is being accused of slipping a "whisky sour" into his pre-Budget report. | The chancellor is being accused of slipping a "whisky sour" into his pre-Budget report. |
| The Scotch Whisky Association said the announcement of an extra 29p on a 70cl bottle was a damaging blow to the industry in the current market. | |
| It said the move, announced in the footnotes to Alistair Darling's speech, was "counter-productive". | It said the move, announced in the footnotes to Alistair Darling's speech, was "counter-productive". |
| Campbell Evans of the SWA said: "This tax rise is likely to be permanent - the fall in VAT is only temporary." | Campbell Evans of the SWA said: "This tax rise is likely to be permanent - the fall in VAT is only temporary." |
| He told BBC Radio Scotland: "The high level of excise duty that applies on spirits means the rise will be 29p on a bottle of Scotch - that's a 4% rise, and they have failed to understand that this measure has a disproportionate affect on Scotch whisky compared to other sectors. | He told BBC Radio Scotland: "The high level of excise duty that applies on spirits means the rise will be 29p on a bottle of Scotch - that's a 4% rise, and they have failed to understand that this measure has a disproportionate affect on Scotch whisky compared to other sectors. |
| 'Buried deep' | 'Buried deep' |
| "The treasury's own model shows that if they put tax up on spirits they will see falling revenue. This measure was to try and keep revenues up - they're already losing money. It's not got any logic or any sense." | "The treasury's own model shows that if they put tax up on spirits they will see falling revenue. This measure was to try and keep revenues up - they're already losing money. It's not got any logic or any sense." |
| The chancellor defended himself on BBC Radio Scotland. He said the duty rise had to be seen alongside the cut in 2.5% VAT. | The chancellor defended himself on BBC Radio Scotland. He said the duty rise had to be seen alongside the cut in 2.5% VAT. |
| He said: "I've not been able to pass on the VAT reduction in relation to alcohol, but what I've done is I have had a compensatory increase in the duty. | He said: "I've not been able to pass on the VAT reduction in relation to alcohol, but what I've done is I have had a compensatory increase in the duty. |
| "Actually when you look at the whisky industry, I have helped that industry for many many years - I've got to balance the books - at the end of the day you've got pay for it and people understand that." | "Actually when you look at the whisky industry, I have helped that industry for many many years - I've got to balance the books - at the end of the day you've got pay for it and people understand that." |
| But the duty increase was attacked by SNP MP Angus Robertson as a "smash and grab raid". | But the duty increase was attacked by SNP MP Angus Robertson as a "smash and grab raid". |
| Mr Robertson, MP for Moray, said: "The chancellor did not even have the decency to specifically mention his tax increase on the whisky industry. | Mr Robertson, MP for Moray, said: "The chancellor did not even have the decency to specifically mention his tax increase on the whisky industry. |
| "The bad news was buried deep in the pre-budget report." | "The bad news was buried deep in the pre-budget report." |
| He added: "It is totally unacceptable that this vital industry should be a casualty to Alistair Darling's desperate attempts to resuscitate the UK economy." | He added: "It is totally unacceptable that this vital industry should be a casualty to Alistair Darling's desperate attempts to resuscitate the UK economy." |