Tories accused of "misleading" debate over "tourist tax"

The government has been consulting on proposals to allow certain local authorities to charge additional taxes on overnight stays, to generate income for local community projects.

The Conservative opposition group on Somerset Council brought a motion on the subject to the full council in Bridgwater on Wednesday (May 20), arguing that businesses were "seeking reassurance" from the council about its intentions.

But the motion was ultimately withdrawn after the wording was changed by the ruling Liberal Democrat administration - which warned councillors of all parties that misleading the public would damage Somerset's economy and wider reputation.

Here's everything you need to know:

What are the government's intentions?

Communities secretary Steve Reed MP (Image: PA)

The government first floated the idea of creating "visitor levies on overnight stays" in a consultation which ran from November 26, 2025, to February 18, 2026.

The proposal envisioned giving "mayoral powers"—which Somerset Council currently is not—powers to impose a charge on visitors staying in hotels, bed and breakfasts, guesthouses and holiday lets.

The government said the levy will bring England into line with Scotland and Wales, as well as several other European countries, with the proceeds being used to support local projects.

The government is still analysing the results of the consultation, with the King's Speech on May 13 making no specific reference to either the levy or any bill which would introduce it.

Does Somerset have the power to introduce such a tax?

Somerset Council leader Bill Revans at the full council on May 20 (Image: Somerset Council)

The short answer is: no—something which council leader Bill Revans emphasised before the debate.

Mr Revans (who represents the North Petherton division) said: "There are no powers that this council has to levy a holiday tax.

"There are no proposals from central government to give this council powers for a holiday tax—that proposal is for strategic mayoral authorities and foundation strategic authorities.

"This motion does not apply to this council."

Under the council's constitution, any motions put forward must be in relation to "matters for which the council has direct responsibility"—such as special needs provision, bin collections or planning services.

Somerset Council monitoring officer Alyn Jones at the full council on May 20 (Image: Somerset Council)

Motions can be about national or global issues, such as climate change, but must be geared towards specific actions the council can take—for instance, writing to the relevant government department to raise an issue or request a meeting with MPs.

Monitoring officer Alyn Jones—who is responsible for ensuring the council adheres to its own rules about democratic decision-making—replied: "The purpose of the motion as put is to essentially set out a future policy position, regardless of whether the legislation is available to us or not.

"It is possible and capable for this council to debate this matter."

Somerset Council is seeking to become part of a combined authority with its Dorset and Wiltshire counterparts—but this was not taken forward in the most recent of devolution proposals, and it is not clear when or if the government will implement this at a later date.

What did the Conservatives' motion state?

Councillor Bob Filmer (Conservative, Brent) (Image: Somerset Council)

Councillor Bob Filmer (Conservative, Brent) introduced the motion, which called on the council to take three actions:

• State clearly that it will not "support, work to introduce, or apply for the implementation of" any tourist or holiday tax in Somerset
• Write to Somerset's seven MPs calling on them to back the council and "advocate for measures that support the visitor economy"
• Work with local businesses, tourism organisations and stakeholders to "promote Somerset as a competitive and affordable destination, and to support employment across the visitor economy."

Mr Filmer said: "As many of you will know, my area contains many holiday businesses across Berrow and Brean, but also across the wider area, with many of them catering for visitors to our beautiful county.

"Many of those businesses have raised the holiday tax with me, as they have real and understandable concerns as to the impact that such a tax could have on them.

"The proposals, which could see local councils charging an added fee of up to five per cent of the cost of overnight stays in hotels and holiday lets, could amount to millions of pounds in added taxes for holidaymakers and thousands of job losses across the hospitality industry by 2030.

"Across Somerset, we have large numbers of businesses associated with tourism, and many local people employed in the leisure and tourism industries.

"Many of these businesses are family-run and are already having to deal with increased government taxes, the increased cost to employ staff and increased overheads such as fuel.

"They cannot afford further burdens imposed locally.

"I am sure you will understand why local businesses and visitors are seeking reassurance from the council that Somerset will not seek to introduce such a tax.

"Local businesses are already having a difficult time.

"To secure their futures, they constantly need to invest in their businesses, and the prospect of this tax is a sword of Damocles hanging over them."

How did the Liberal Democrats respond?

Somerset Council's headquarters at County Hall on The Crescent in Taunton (Image: NQ staff)

The Lib Dems put forward an amendment to the motion, which Mr Filmer said "amounted to whole-scale deletion and rewriting" and "bore no resemblance to the original in content or intent."

The amended motion called for the council to do the following:

• Work with Dorset and Wiltshire's councils and tourism bodies to "assess the impact of tourism on local infrastructure and monitor the implications of any future visitor levy proposals on Somerset's economy."
• Write to Somerset's MPs, urging them to "continue support for Somerset's visitor economy" and "advocate for measures that strengthen tourism, hospitality and local employment."
• Continue working with local businesses, tourism organisations and stakeholders to "promote Somerset as a competitive, affordable and welcoming destination for visitors."
• Confirm that it has "no current legal powers to introduce a visitor levy or holiday tax", and recognise that this kind of "inaccurate speculation" risks damaging Somerset's economy.

Call on all councillors and public representatives to "avoid misleading statements that may damage local businesses, jobs and investment."

How did the Conservatives react to this?

Mr Filmer responded by withdrawing the motion—meaning there was no substantive debate in the chamber on this matter.

Speaking after the meeting, he said: "The proposed amendment to the original motion was a wrecking amendment.

"The proposed amendment sought to frustrate the content and spirit of the original motion, and attacked the motion and its proponents."