Opponents of pasty tax brave rain to protest

Wearing chefs’ hats and white T-shirts emblazoned with “SOS – save our savouries”, around 500 supporters massed outside Downing Street to rally opposition against Chancellor George Osborne’s move to make hot takeaway snacks subject to 20 per cent VAT.

Mike Holling, of the National Association of Master Bakers, said the implementation of VAT would cause job losses.

He said: “I’m told by my colleagues in the West Country they envisage job losses – one of the things I want to know is from the HMRC or Treasury ... what they envisage. There is a strong suggestion people will lose their jobs and we can ill-afford that at the moment.”

Mark Muncey, chairman of the Cornish Pasty Association, said: “This is a shock tax, a sweeping tax, badly thought-out and badly presented, and it needs to be changed.

“There’ll definitely be job losses. It’s a 20 per cent increase and people can’t afford that.”

The demonstration, organised by high street bakery chain Greggs and the National Association of Master Bakers, drew support from passers-by and motorists who beeped their horns as they drove through Westminster.

Taking a loudhailer, Ken McMeikan, chief executive of Greggs, stood on a step ladder and addressed the protesters, saying they had fought to develop a strong industry which would be badly hit as customers could not afford the VAT introduction.

Being loudly cheered, Mr McMeikan said: “The gravity of the situation that faces our industry must not and cannot be underestimated.”

The Prime Minister has previously insisted insisted it was unfair that other takeaway food was covered by the tax while pasties were not.