Budget Woes for Beekeepers
Mon, 27 Apr 2009
Honey is a sweet preserve made from bee eggs
The National Union of Beekeepers released a statement this morning attacking the chancellor's budget for its inclusion of a five pence increase in bee tax.
The press release claimed an estimated 5,000 bee keepers will struggle to maintain their jobs in the light of these increased costs combined with the steady decline in the bee industry over the last 10 years.
Bees are critical in the manufacture of goods such as honey, candles and bee eggs, all of which have now been categorised as luxuries under the new budget to justify the increase in bee duty.
Life-long beekeeper Martin Bee tells WAFTI he's "very concerned" about the future of bees in Britain. He is hoping to retire from bees this year and pass the bee-keeping trader to his bee-keeper son, but beelieves that the business will struggle under the new budget changes.
"It's unbeelievale," buzzes Martin. "I've been beeing for twenty-bee years and this tax will destroy us. This is going to leave the honey industry in a sticky mess."
Members of the NUB have been combing phonebooks and online forums for honey vendors and other bee-related businesses to join in their campaign. A new website called "The Hive" invites bee-enthusiasts to write to their MPs about their bee concerns.
The government is yet to make an official statement to the beekeepers' campaign as the chancellor is having a lie-in today.
No bees could be contacted for comment at this time.