Reform UK has vowed to axe the hated holiday tax as getaway costs are forecast to soar by £100.
Shortly after entering No10, Andy Burnham announced he was flirting with allowing Labour mayors to impose the “cruel” tax on British families across the nation.
The move fuelled sharp fury from senior hospitality figures over the damaging consequences, warning the levy will increase the costs of a fortnight-long holiday for a family by £100.
Announcing they would scrap the tax, Reform’s Treasury spokesman, Robert Jenrick, vowed Nigel Farage’s party would “fight this cruel tax every step of the way”.
The Newark MP further accused Mr Burnham of being “completely out of touch” and branded the tax a “disaster for working people”.
He said: “The Holiday Tax will be a disaster for working people.
“Families are already struggling with rising taxes and prices – this is the last thing they need.
“Unable to cut spending in Westminster, Burnham is asking mayors to do his dirty work by increasing taxes themselves in a move that will cost thousands of jobs in the hospitality trade.
Reform has vowed to scrap the holiday tax
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“Andy Burnham is betraying the working people he claims to represent. Reform will always put the British people first and fight this cruel tax every step of the way.
“We are the only party who have vowed to reverse Rachel Reeves’s jobs tax for British workers, reform business rates and scrap over-bearing regulation that has killed jobs.”
UK Hospitality analysis forecast the move could put as many as 33,000 hospitality jobs at risk, wiping £2billion from the economy.
The overnight visitors levy has already started in the Scottish tourist haven of Edinburgh, and will soon be imposed in Cardiff as well.
Nigel Farage and Richard Tice on the campaign trail back in 2019
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The party has confirmed Reform’s mayors would not impose a holiday tax.
Meanwhile, Labour’s mayors are currently flirting with the concept across London, Liverpool, York and North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, East Midlands, and the West of England.
Reform claimed the tax would make the UK “less attractive” as a tourist destination as well as those looking to travel for business.
While other Europe tourist taxes force reinvestment into the area, UK mayors will not be forced to make their destinations more attractive.
Instead, the party said the funds will be spent on “mayoral vanity projects” or “general cost pressures”.
As a result, Reform UK vowed to oppose the Overnight Visitor Levy Bill.
If the legislation is passed, they promised to repeal the Act to prevent authorities of inflicting the self-imposed cap on tourists.
Labour was also looking at ways to impose another holiday tax raid that could cost tens of thousands of Britons as much as £3,000 per year.
John Healey, Mr Burnham’s Chancellor, is considering taxing holiday lets as second homes rather than as businesses.
May holiday let owners would be forced to sell up as a result of the tax rise, tourism bosses have warned.