Keir Starmer is planning a new tax to hit holidays - and there's outrage

Keir Starmer is planning a new tax to hit holidays - and there's outrageThe Government's plan to allow mayors to levy tourism taxes could devastate the holiday industry and cost the economy billions Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments By David Williamson, Chief Political Commentator 12:00, Sat, May 30, 2026 Keir Starmer has horrified the hospitality and tourism sector (Image: PA)Labour's “tourist tax” could rip billions out of Britain’s holiday sector, deter millions of people from taking trips, kill jobs and stop cash-strapped families taking staycations together, the Government has been warned. Sir Keir Starmer’s Government has been urged to ditch its pledge in the King’s Speech to give mayors the power to hit visitors with an “overnight visitor levy” which has horrified the industry. The Tourism Alliance has condemned the plan as the “wrong tax at the wrong time”. window.scriptsToLoad.push({url:'https://live.primis.tech/live/liveView.php?s=118222&vp_content=plembed3a6btjknzwqh&cbuster=%%CACHEBUSTER%%&playerApiId=v118222',triggeredBy:'tcfLoaded',delay:1500,containerId:'ovp-primis',title:"Primis player",beforeLoad:()=>{window.top.addEventListener('primisPlayerInit',e=>{try{if(e.detail&&e.detail.playerApiId==="v118222"){if(window.document.getElementsByClassName('jwplayer')[0]){e.detail.float('disable')}}}catch(e){}})},}) An analysis by the Taxpayers’ Alliance (TPA) warns that domestic tourism could be devastated if a tax on overnight stays is rolled out across the whole country. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Get the latest politics news - straight from our team in Westminster and more Subscribe Invalid emailWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy PolicyPointing to...