Domestic Travel and Holidays: Visitor Levy

Baroness Neville-Rolfe Excerpts

Tuesday 21st July 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Lemos (Lab)]

Yes, I do share my noble friend’s concern about misinformation and disinformation, not just in this regard but in many other regards. As noble Lords with whom I have discussed the elections Bill will know, I am particularly concerned about foreign interference in various matters in our lives here, including elections.

London is of course a wonderful and safe city. The Government have an ambitious target of 50 million in-bound visits a year by 2030, and I pay tribute to the work my noble friend is doing to promote those activities. London is a wonderful place—do not let anyone tell you otherwise.

[Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Con)]

My Lords, a visitor levy is a poor prospect, damaging the hospitality sector and its employees, and is no doubt a contributor to today’s ONS unemployment figure of 14.8% for 18 to 24 year-olds. The Prime Minister has made an array of promises: a cut in VAT on electricity, lifting the personal tax allowance, ending rough sleeping, a huge council house programme and relocation packages to get civil servants to move north—

[Noble Lords]

Hurrah!

[Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Con)]

No cheering. Can the Minister explain how all these new commitments will be paid for, and whether Parliament will be given the chance to probe the many questions that will arise in the coming days and weeks?

[Lord Lemos (Lab)]

I thank the noble Baroness for setting out the Government’s plan so clearly, and in doing so enjoying so much support from behind me. This visitor levy is really important; it exists in every G7 country. I am sorry—I do not want to be completely flippant because this is really important. Of course, we expect local authorities, mayors, to take proper decisions about how to fund these things, and to grow their economy.