Prescott weighs in on pasty row

Meridian
Pasty Tax
Lord John Prescott
Sussex
Saturday 31 March 2012 at 4:01pm

Lord Prescott's 'pasty protest' at a bakery in Brighton

The former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott was in Brighton today to voice his opinion on the chancellor's budget plans to bring in a tax on hot takeaway food.

The politician stood outside a bakery, urging passers-by to sign a petition against the plan to introduce VAT, currently 20% - on hot takeaway food in October.

The Chancellor George Osborne announced the proposal in Wednesday's budget. There has already been a fierce reaction in Cornwall to the move which could see Cornish pasties rise in price. The extra VAT measure has been nicknamed the 'pasty tax'.