Holiday tax drop-in in Parliament

We showcased the recent MRP polling of over 10,000 adults across Great Britain which found that more than twice as many people oppose the Government’s proposed holiday tax (56%) as those who support it (24%).

MPs were also able view high level constituency specific data showing how their constituents think and feel about the holiday tax – and how it may impact their voting intention at the next general election.

Discover your consistency’s view on the holiday tax here.

With around 40 MPs from across the political landscape attending the drop in to hear about the scale of public opposition to the Government’s proposed holiday tax, it is clear that momentum is building with MPs keen to hear from industry on the unintended consequences of this tax on families, businesses and holiday destinations.

This tax is the wrong policy and at the worst time for the sector.

The hard-hitting data by Oxford Economics on the consequences for the wider visitor economy was used in conversations with MPs to highlight the devastating impact the tax will have on entry level jobs and hospitality led regeneration of high streets and town centres, particularly in coastal and rural communities.

With businesses in the room, parliamentarians had the opportunity to discuss with first hand any concerns they have around administration, collection and ringfencing of funds linked to the levy.

Ultimately, taxing hardworking Brits’ holidays will prove politically unpopular with the electorate with voters nearly 10 times more likely to punish an MP who backs the holiday tax than back them at the ballot box.

Please write to your MP to signal your opposition to a holiday tax here.

Thank you to our members Merlin Entertainments, Hilton, Haven, IHG Hotels and Sykes Holiday Cottages for attending and providing powerful case studies of how the tax will affect their business and the wider visitor economy.