Sir Ashley Fox MP has criticised Labour’s economic record and challenged Liberal Democrat councillors in Somerset to clarify whether they support plans for a local holiday tax.
Speaking during a parliamentary debate on backing business and economic growth, the MP said hardworking families, businesses and employers were being unfairly targeted by the Government while those “doing the right thing” were being left worse off.
Ashley Fox told Parliament:
“This Government are making life harder for people who work hard and do the right thing, and too often they reward those who do not.
“Labour is taxing those who work, those who employ people, those who save, those who invest, those who create jobs, and those who build up a family farm or family business and want to pass it on to their children.”
During the speech, Ashley Fox criticised Labour’s borrowing plans, warning that the Government was borrowing significantly more than previously planned and risking further economic instability.
He also accused the Government of introducing policies that would place additional pressure on families already struggling with the cost of living.
A focus of Ashley Fox’s speech was Labour’s proposal to allow councils to introduce a local holiday tax, which he warned could damage tourism businesses across Burnham-on-Sea, Berrow and Brean.
Ashley Fox said:
“Most people who take their holiday in Britain are British. They already pay VAT at 20% on their holidays, and Labour wants to tax them further. This will hit local businesses in Burnham-on-Sea, Berrow and Brean in my constituency.”
Ashley Fox also used the debate to put pressure on Liberal Democrats running Somerset Council, accusing them of refusing to take a clear position on the issue despite Liberal Democrats elsewhere backing the proposal saying:
“It has been interesting to watch Liberal Democrats in Somerset squirming over their plans for a holiday tax. While their colleagues in Bristol and Bath have welcomed the tax, calling its introduction a victory for Liberal Democrats, those in Somerset do not quite know what to say.”
He added that residents and businesses needed clarity on whether Somerset Liberal Democrats supported taking money from tourism areas such as Burnham-on-Sea, Brean and Berrow through additional visitor charges.
