Labour’s planned holiday tax on British staycations will threaten its parliamentary majority, a new poll has shown.
The tourist tax will allow mayoral authorities in England to impose a levy on the cost of an overnight stay in their areas – a policy that critics have claimed will be a “death knell” for British seaside resorts.
New polling by the industry body UKHospitality has found that 56 per cent of Britons oppose the tax, which would add more than £100 to the cost of a two-week family holiday.
The survey of more than 10,000 people also found that voters were nearly 10 times as likely to punish an MP who backs the policy than to reward them, at the ballot box.
In 200 of the 411 seats Labour won at the last general election, the number of voters who said they would be less likely to support their MP because of the policy exceeded the party’s majority in that seat.
The policy will allow mayoral authorities in England to impose a levy on the cost of an overnight stay in their areas – Shahid Khan/Alamy
Almost half of respondents – 47 per cent – said they would be less likely to vote for their MP if they supported the measure, while just 5 per cent said it would make them more likely to back them.
The policy would have a significant effect on the UK holiday industry, with 73 per cent of respondents saying the tax would prevent them from holidaying in England.
Allen Simpson, the chief executive of UKHospitality, said: “This polling should be a wake-up call for every MP tempted to back the holiday tax.
“It is opposed by a majority of their constituents, it would deter millions from holidaying in England, and it would hit hardest the very families the Government says it wants to help.”
He added that the policy risked pricing families out of domestic breaks at a time when household budgets were already under pressure.
Robert Jenrick, Reform UK’s Treasury spokesman, said: “There appears to be nothing that Labour won’t tax. This will be the death knell for many seaside resorts, and will stop up to one in five Brits holidaying in England.
“No Reform UK mayors will enforce this terrible tax. We want people to be able to have fun and enjoy themselves without being clobbered by the taxman. This latest ploy from Labour shows they have completely given up on serving hard-pressed people.”
A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “This poll is based on speculation. The final design of the visitor levy has not been decided.
“We’re clear that the levy will ensure areas benefit even more from tourism, and mayors will have more money to invest in local priorities.”