Pasty fan Duchess of Northumberland takes bite out of Chancellor's tax increase

1:09pm Sunday 1st April 2012 in News

Pasty fans; Duchess and Duke of Northumberland Pasty fans; Duchess and Duke of Northumberland

THE Duchess of Northumberland has weighed into the pasty tax debate - revealing that her children were brought up on them.

Days after Chancellor George Osborne - the son of the 17th baronet of Ballintaylor - was branded "out of touch" with the public after declaring he can not remember the last time he had a pasty, the Duchess has stuck up for the baked goods and is backing a campaign to axe the tax.

Far from being sniffy about the popular food, she says that Britain's biggest seller of pasties, Greggs, is an "institution".

She said: "Greggs is a North-East institution, a great brand and a successful company which genuinely cares about the welfare of those living in the region.

"My children were all brought up on corned beef pasties and I am proud to support the campaign."

Osborne has come under fire this week after closing a controversial loophole in tax law, meaning that and baked goods served above room temperature will be liable for tax.

Retailers such as Greggs the Bakers have pointed out the difficulties of enforcing such a law, with pasties being left to cool once cooked and fluctuations in Britain's weather making it near-impossible.

Head of Greggs Neil McMeikan said of the proposal: “There’s a scenario where someone at the front of the queue is subject to VAT and the person at the back [buying a product which has cooled down] wouldn’t be.”

Comments (4)

1:58pm Sun 1 Apr 12

NorthernJim says...

No Taxation Based On Mastication by NorthernJim

O golden flaky pasty, how you trifle with my soul,
You're more tempting than lasagne, curried chips or casserole.
In innocence I pass by near the hotplate where you dwell,
My recepticals olfactic sybaritically swell.
And thoughts emerge most naughtily of pleasures high in guilt,
So much that self-control and staunch resolve both quickly wilt.
I reach into my fund of cash to sate this basic urge,
But find my eager fist without the wherewithal emerge.
Oh **** the powers that deny my guttonous climax,
And blast the coalition that dreamt up the Pasty Tax.
No Taxation Based On Mastication by NorthernJim O golden flaky pasty, how you trifle with my soul, You're more tempting than lasagne, curried chips or casserole. In innocence I pass by near the hotplate where you dwell, My recepticals olfactic sybaritically swell. And thoughts emerge most naughtily of pleasures high in guilt, So much that self-control and staunch resolve both quickly wilt. I reach into my fund of cash to sate this basic urge, But find my eager fist without the wherewithal emerge. Oh **** the powers that deny my guttonous climax, And blast the coalition that dreamt up the Pasty Tax. NorthernJim

2:00pm Sun 1 Apr 12

NorthernJim says...

d*mn isn't a naughty word : )
d*mn isn't a naughty word : ) NorthernJim

4:43pm Sun 1 Apr 12

wonderfish says...

Yay! Well done Northern Echo you finally spelt pasty right!
Yay! Well done Northern Echo you finally spelt pasty right! wonderfish

3:09pm Tue 3 Apr 12

Lifetime Townie says...

Pasty tax is just another cranky gov. idea and it makes one wonder about the mentality of these ministers. On the other hand it could be a fun loving person in Whitehall who is having a laugh at the expense of the minister who has taken the bait in a jolly wind up.
Pasty tax is just another cranky gov. idea and it makes one wonder about the mentality of these ministers. On the other hand it could be a fun loving person in Whitehall who is having a laugh at the expense of the minister who has taken the bait in a jolly wind up. Lifetime Townie

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