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WSTA appoints Neil Coyle MP head of Wines and Spirits APPG

Replacing Tim Loughton MP, who stepped down last month having led the group since 2014 having overseen growth in membership of the APPG to its largest number of members since it began, Coyle assumes his new role with immediate effect.

Coyle was a natural fit for the position given with his constituency “a hub for the UK wine and spirits industry” being the home to at least three distilleries, the WSET and several wine businesses, said the WSTA.

“The efforts of the APPG will be vital if we are to undo some of the damage done, both at the Budget in October and as a result of Brexit, and I’ve no doubt Neil, in his role as chair, will be more than up to the task,” said WSTA chief executive Miles Beale, adding he would like to thank Tim for his four years of service as chair.

Coyle said: “The wine and spirit industry in the UK is hugely important – supporting around 473,000 jobs and contributing £49 billion in economic activity. I look forward to working with colleagues on both sides of the House, and with the WSTA in their role as secretariat, furthering the cause of trade, jobs, and economy for the industry in the coming years.”

The WSTA acts as secretariat to the Wines and Spirits APPG and has worked closely with the group over the years by raising the profile of the industry and securing several freezes in wine and spirits duty – most recently for a freeze to spirits excise duty in the Budget last month.