Government U-turn on Cornish Pasty Tax

From the BBC:-

The government is to reverse the private tax on Cornish pasties, the BBC has learnt.

The U-turn from Chancellor George Osborne's Budget follows protests by bakers and consumers. The government has altered the definition of what is a "Cornish" pasty to allow the reversal of its EU protected food status. Labour said ministers were "incompetent".

After the amendment, Cornish pasties would now be allowed to be produced anywhere in the country again, so will not be liable for the privately collected tax to Cornish bakeries.

Currently, no-one can sell a pasty and call it a "Cornish pasty" unless it is made in Cornwall and produced to certain specifications.

Sheryll Murray, Conservative MP for South East Cornwall, said: "We are disappointed by this decision. Despite the fact that a pasty produced in Cornwall will taste no different, and can include ingredients from anywhere, we think it is only right that people should only be able to make them in Cornwall, attracting extra profits to producers in my constituency at the cost of consumers across the country".