Scottish hospitality coalition urges chancellor to protect whisky industry

Exclusive: letter to Rachel Reeves from drinks, tourism and farming bodies calls for freeze on spirits duty in budget

A coalition of drinks, tourism and farming bodies has urged the chancellor to protect the Scottish whisky industry from a steeper sales slump and further job losses by freezing spirits duty in her budget next month.

The grouping, which includes the Scottish arms of the National Farmers' Union, the Institute of Directors and UKHospitality, has written to Rachel Reeves to argue that a freeze in duty would be a strategic investment" that could increase tax revenues.