Beith Defends Golfers

A leading politician has accused Tony Blair's government of targeting golfers with legislation that will raise membership fees on proprietary courses.

Liberal MP Alan Beith condemned reforms passed by New Labour to charge some clubs VAT (Value Added Tax) on membership fees, labelling the changes "inept" and "badly drafted".

The reforms are intended to ensure government policy complies with European law, and to curb what has been described as "considerable tax avoidance" by golf clubs.

But all this bureaucracy matters little to the local golfer who will have to fork out more money to play his chosen sport.

Mr Beith said: "Golfers deserve better than this. This bill enforces unfair discrimination against proprietory clubs and could also threaten the long-term VAT exemptions of traditional clubs.

"The government has laid a path to widespread confusion and court action in the future, since even non-profit organisations could be affected by the provisions."