John Mann slams Government’s pie tax

Bassetlaw MP John Mann has slammed the Government over its plans to increase VAT on hot food.

Chancellor George Osborne was left with pie on his face after revealing people could avoid the 20 per cent price rise by buying cold pies, sausage rolls and pasties.

Mr Mann raised his concerns over the hike, which was announced in last week’s Budget, during a Treasury Committee hearing on Tuesday.

Speaking to the Guardian on Wednesday, Mr Mann said the Chancellor was ‘out of touch’ with the real world.

“It is a lot of nonsense. The Government has got itself in a right pickle on this one,” he said.

“A sausage roll or pasty will be taxed in cold weather, but not in hot weather. That’s how ridiculous this change will be.”

Mr Mann said the extra VAT would be applied when the food was hotter than the temperature outside.

“Are businesses like Greggs meant to employ someone to check the temperature of every pasty and how hot it is outside?” he said.

“This just shows how out of touch he is. I bet he’s a man who has never been to Greggs.”

“I get a cheese pasty from Greggs every Friday. In fact I probably have more than I should.”

It also means this will be the last Easter you can get a hot cross bun without paying tax on it.

“It is just not practical and is going to be completely unworkable.”