Shadow ministers Eric Pickles and Hugo Swire were handing out ice-lollies by the seaside last week to protest at plans they say are being mooted by Sir Michael Lyons. Mr Pickles, Tory shadow local government minister, and Mr Swire, the party’s shadow secretary for culture, media and sport, visited Bournemouth and Brighton to protest at the inclusion of a local tax on hotels, hostels and bed and breakfast establishments in Sir Michael's blueprint for local government reform. ‘Gordon Brown and John Prescott have already hiked up council tax bills,’ said Mr Pickles. ‘Now they want to hike the price of a British break.’
