Net savvy cider drinkers delivering a crab apple to Alistair Darling

It's started...

Cider drinkers, totally 'pissed' at Alistair Darling's 10% above inflation increase on tax on the drink, have started hitting back... by buying The Wurzels track I Am A Cider Drinker.

The move - the result of an internet campaign - appears to be enjoying success.

The track, from the Top of the Crops album, currently sits just outside the top twenty on the Amazon UK downloads chart.

44,792 people have - at the time of writing - signed up to the Facebook campaign group behind this musical V-sign at the Chancellor. The Wurzels will be donating their royalties to Sports Relief.

Of course, the fun nature of the Wurzels campaign does have a serious side and traditional cider makers in Britain could suffer devestating consequences as a result of Alistair Darling's bizarre tax measure.

The Talking Clock asked our friend, UKIP's Hereford and South Herefordshire PPC - Valentine Smith - to spell out the serious side for us.

Valentine is seeking to become the elected representative of an area where cider production is of local significance.

And writing exclusively for The Talking Clock, Valentine explains: "In a budget that was just venal and vindictive and completely missed out on any real initiative to solve our financial woes, the most stupid and crass announcement was the ‘Cider Tax’. The cider industry has been one of our very few success stories in the UK in recent years, for both employment and the environment and it’s success has been a noticeable thumbs down for the EU agricultural initiatives.

"As more UK consumers have been drinking home produced real cider in a responsible way, orchards that had formerly been grubbed up to take advantage of EU grants are now returning to profitable and environmentally friendly growth of apple trees of many cider varieties. This includes an increasing use of many almost lost old varieties as recipes from the past are being recreated for a growing number of genuine enthusiasts.

"For the record, as the Chancellor obviously doesn’t know or care, cheap superstrength ‘cider’ that has never been near a real apple will continue - even after this measure - to be a cheap, nasty route to oblivion for people with a drink problem along with cheap vodka. Real cider is a drink for people who, apart from the taste, appreciate the craft and heritage of the production - the same as fine wines.

"This tax could put some producers out of business; most of the vulnerable are family firms and another blow for already hard hit rural pubs."