Reform pledges to scrap Andy Burnham's 'cruel' holiday tax - with Robert Jenrick warning it will be a 'disaster' for families

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 17:00 EDT, 21 September 2026 | Updated: 17:05 EDT, 21 September 2026 Reform has pledged to scrap Andy Burnham's 'cruel' holiday tax if it wins the next general election.A Government run by Nigel Farage would stop Labour mayors from imposing the Overnight Visitor Levy on families and business travellers.It would repeal the law currently being drawn up to give local leaders the power to introduce an uncapped charge on stays in all hotels, guest houses and Airbnbs in their areas.The party warned the tax, forecast to add £100 to the cost of a two-week break, would damage jobs and the tourism industry as well as hitting struggling households.It also pointed out that the funds received by mayors will not be ring-fenced for making their towns and cities more attractive for visitors, so could be spent on tackling 'general cost pressures' instead.Reform's Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick 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.'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.' Reform's Robert Jenrick on the BBC last week alongside Labour's Angela Rayner, whose department is introducing the holiday tax Reform's two regional mayors, Dame Andrea Jenkyns in Lincolnshire and Hull's Luke Campbell, have already pledged not to introduce the holiday tax, as have their Tory counterparts in the Tees Valley and Cambridgeshire.By contrast, Labour's ten metro mayors are all expected to impose it on their areas, ranging from the North East to Manchester and the West of England, with plans due to be set out by March 2028.They have written to ministers saying that 5 per cent represents a 'reasonable ceiling' on the charge, despite warnings from the hospitality industry that it will lead to £1.78billion less being spent by tourists and result in 33,000 jobs being lost.Allen Simpson, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: 'More and more people are recognising the fundamental flaws in implementing an uncapped holiday tax. The tax will increase costs for holiday makers, risk 33,000 jobs and harm destinations across the UK.'At a time when both the public and businesses are already facing substantial cost pressures, the Government should be focused on measures that encourage tourism and investment, and reduce hospitality's tax burden closer, not add more cost.'It comes after Kemi Badenoch said a future Tory government would ditch the separate tourist tax, bringing back VAT-free shopping for visitors to Britain.A Conservative Party spokesman said: 'Our two Conservative combined authority Mayors have both said they oppose this tax and will not introduce it. Kemi Badenoch has been clear that the wider Party also stands against the tax.'On Monday we pledged to restore tax-free shopping for overseas visitors, backing our hospitality and leisure industry and attracting investment to our country. Reform should follow suit.'