Title

FINANCE

Mayors in tourism tax plea

English mayors have urged the Government to allow councils to introduce visitor levies to boost regional economies, tourism and infrastructure.

Steve Rotheram (C) Liverpool City Region

Steve Rotheram (C) Liverpool City Region

English mayors have urged the Government to allow councils to introduce visitor levies to boost regional economies, tourism and infrastructure.

In a letter signed by a coalition of English mayors, the group argued that tourism taxes would help ‘empower local places' by contributing to the growth of transport and cultural infrastructure.

The group argued English regions ‘risk being left behind' as Wales and Edinburgh introduce visitor levies of their own.

Liverpool city region mayor Steve Rotheram, who spearheaded the letter, said: ‘A small charge on overnight stays – the kind most of us wouldn't think twice about when travelling abroad – would give us the power to reinvest directly into the things that make our area so special.'

 

FINANCE

English devolution: Redefining mayoral scrutiny

By Natalie Rotherham | 20 May 2026

Natalie Rotherham says scrutiny is becoming a core pillar of England’s evolving devolved governance system, with mayoral accountability now expected to match...

FINANCE

Regeneration: Developing devolution

By David Blackman | 13 May 2026

UK plans for fiscal devolution, announced by chancellor Rachel Reeves, could significantly reshape how city regions fund transport and regeneration projects....

FINANCE

Bill 'first step' in fiscal devolution era

By Dan Peters | 13 May 2026

The Overnight Visitor Levy Bill is the ‘first step in a new era of fiscal devolution in England’, the Government has said.

FINANCE

Re-localising elections

By Professor Colin Copus | 10 May 2026

A voting system that allows for not only national parties, but real independents, local parties and local single-issue groups to win seats is the only way to...

Popular articles by Izzy Lepone