In a letter to the Chancellor, they are calling for a lower rate for pints from casks and kegs. The MPs also want an expected hike in beer duty in line with inflation to be scrapped. Ex-Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith and former ministers Sir John Hayes, Karen Bradley, and Mark Francois are among the 103 signatories. Backbencher Richard Holden, the letter organiser, said the cut in beer duty was necessary because hospitality was hit hardest in the pandemic.

       He said: "A cut will not only significantly bolster our much loved pubs across our towns and villages, but also have great knock-on effects for British agriculture and employment, especially for young people in our hospitality sector."

       Treasury documents signal a ￡300million a year increase in tax receipts from alcohol following measures expected in next Wednesday's Budget.

       In a separate campaign, ex-model Jodie Kidd delivered to Downing Street a petition signed by 126,000 people calling for cuts in duty and business rates.

       The owner of the Half Moon pub in Kirdford, West Sussex, said: "Rishi Sunak has the chance to secure up to 20,000 pubs that are at risk of business failure by reversing his plans to increase VAT and beer duty."