Sorry Darling you're barred.

PUBS around Wilmslow could be joining the campaign to impose a blanket ban on the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Landlords are not too pleased with Alistair Darling, claiming his recent decision to slap four pence of tax on a pint of beer is "crippling" the nation’s pubs.

And the Express found that some of the town’s boozers were contemplating joining the campaign to bar the silver-haired MP from every public house in the UK.

The idea began at a bar in Edinburgh, which decided to impose a life-time ban on the cabinet member following his announcement of the four pence rise at the recent Budget.

Now they are trying to get every pub in the UK to follow suit and landlords around the area are considering joining the rapidly growing movement.

Nick Quinn, landlord of The Railway on Station Road, Handforth, is all in favour of letting Mr Darling know exactly what the town’s watering holes think.

He said: "It’s getting a bit daft. We had an increase off the brewery, then we got the increase from the Government. I wish they had got together.

"The Government should be working hand in hand with the breweries.The only person who suffers is us and the man on the street. We have already hit them [customers] once with the non-smoking thing. I honestly thought he would hit the alcopops hard. I can understand it going on spirits and stronger beers, but I thought they would have left the normal beers alone. It’s pushing people onto the streets."

But Nick said he wouldn’t bar the Chancellor.

"That would make me as bad as him," he added."But I would like to have a sit down and have a talk with him."

Rick Farnie, relief manager at the Coach and Four on Alderley Road, Wilmslow said: "To be honest I’ve not really thought about it.

"If Alistair Darling was on Wilmslow Pub Watch then I would have to bar him, but I think this is a decision I would leave up to the landlord."

George Symes, 54, a committee member for the Macclesfield and East Cheshire Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) branch, said: "If pubs in the area joined in the ban then we would support it because it’s publicity and it brings attention to what is a very important issue."

The campaign comes on the back of news that pubs are closing down at a rate of 27 a week across the country, according to the latest figures released by the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA).

This has lead to the formation of a group on social networking website Facebook with the sole intention of making sure the ban is imposed nationwide.

So it may only be a matter of time before every bar in town tells the Chancellor: "You’re barred".