Yesterday Graham Stuart, the MP for Beverley and Holderness, organised a meeting between local MPs and caravan manufacturers at ABI in Beverley to celebrate the announcement that the proposed increase in VAT on static holiday caravans will be cut by 75 percent and delayed until April 2013.
Graham then toured the factory, talked to staff, and thanked them for all their efforts in collecting signatures for the public petition presented to the House of Commons on May 22nd.
The meeting was attended by the Rt Hon David Davis MP, Rt Hon Greg Knight MP, Andrew Percy MP and local caravan manufacturers including representatives from the Swift Group, Carnaby Caravans, Victory Leisure Homes, Delta Caravans, and Europa Caravans.
Graham said “It was a great opportunity to celebrate with caravan industry representatives, talk to workers on the shop floor, and highlight what an important and successful industry this is for this area. It’s been a highly effective campaign thanks to the industry, caravan owners, Councils and MPs all working together, cross-party, to bring about a positive result.”
“Government ministers have confirmed that they have no plans to revisit the rate of VAT so the industry can plan on the basis of a stable tax situation going forward.
“The campaign proves that hard work, co-operation and good planning can bring about change. I’d like to thank all those inside and outside the industry for doing such a good job in making the case and to thank Ministers for being as good as their word, listening and then acting on the basis of the evidence.”
The cross party campaign against the caravan tax began when Graham organised a meeting between MPs and caravan manufacturers in Beverley immediately after the Budget. He then lead a delegation to the Treasury, tabled an amendment to the Finance Bill, secured an additional debate in the House of Commons, tabled a motion opposing the tax, organised a joint presentation of thousands of petitions to Parliament, and directly lobbied the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and most of the Cabinet to bring about the change.
