Register to get free articles
Want unlimited access? View Plans
Already have an account? Sign in
Some 56% of adults in Great Britain oppose the government’s proposed holiday tax, with just 24% of those surveyed indicating their support, according to a new poll conducted by UKHospitality.
The trade body’s research warns that voters are nearly 10 times more likely to avoid voting for an MP who will back the levy than support them.
Analysis shows a majority of the public opposes the tax in 574 of 632 constituencies, as the government’s proposal would allow mayoral authorities to charge guests for overnight stays.
Projections suggest the measure could add more than £100 to the cost of a two-week break. Nearly half of respondents said they would be less likely to vote for an incumbent who supports the policy.
The data indicates the issue affects political sentiment across the board. Among 2024 Labour voters, 40% stated they would be less likely to re-elect an MP who backed the tax.
Meanwhile, conservative voters expressed similar concerns, with 45% opposing the measure, alongside 53% of Reform UK supporters. Opposition is highest among those already struggling with the cost of living.
Approximately 73% of people said a new tax would force them to stop holidaying in England, reduce their number of trips, or lower their overall spending.
Economic modelling from Oxford Economics suggests a 5% levy would cost 33,000 jobs and leave the treasury £688m worse off in lost tax receipts by 2030.
Allen Simpson, chief executive of UKH, said: “This polling should be a wake-up call for every MP tempted to back the holiday tax. It is opposed by a majority of their constituents, it would deter millions from holidaying in England, and it would hit the very families the government says it wants to help.
“In her Spring Statement, the chancellor said being able to pay for a holiday should never be too much to ask, but this tax puts a holiday out of reach for many.”
He added: “Voters are nearly 10 times more likely to punish their MP for backing this tax than to thank them for it. That is a political signal no MP should ignore. The public’s verdict is clear and decisive: stop the holiday tax. Let’s keep holidays relaxing, not taxing.”
