East Wight Conservative MP, Joe Robertson, has used his shadow culture, media and sport role to take the Government to task over what he described as its “brutal tax regime” on UK tourism. Speaking from the despatch box of the House of Commons during Oral Questions to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, the MP referenced comments made by the boss of British Airways who said at an International airlines summit in Rio that high taxes were putting off visitors from coming to the UK.
Minister sidesteps the question
Mr Robertson asked the Minister for Tourism, Stephanie Peacock, whether she agreed, to which she replied,
“I welcome the hon. Gentleman to his place; I know that he is a big champion for his constituency and the issue.
“As I outlined, I met with the tourism sector a number of times just in the last week. We do recognise the challenges it is facing, but we back the sector.”
Mr Robertson responded,
“Oh dear Mr Speaker, that is not an answer to the question I asked. My question was about the tax burden on the tourism sector in this country. National insurance is up, and we have new taxes on part-time work.
“An overnight visitor levy is in the pipeline, and there are extra taxes on air passengers and ferry passengers.
“This Government’s assault on the Great British holiday has been brutal. It is no wonder young people are struggling to find their first job.
“Will the Minister recommit to the Government’s target to have 50 million international visitors to the UK by 2030, and will she tell the Chancellor to cut the brutal tax regime in order to get us there?”
Accusations fly across the despatch box
The Minister replied by accusing Mr Robertson of, “talking down our tourism industry” and said she would, “take no lessons from the honourable Gentleman given the inheritance from the previous Conservative Government.”
Robertson’s verdict
Mr Robertson commented afterwards,
“No wonder the Government is in such a mess if Ministers don’t think they have to answer a question and are not accountable for the decisions of their own Chancellor.
“I will continue to stand up for the tourism sector, both here on the Island and nationally.”
News shared by the office of Joe Robertson, in their own words. Ed
