MP calls for repeal of ‘cruel’ tourist tax affecting families with sick children
A senior MP has urged Andy Burnham to abolish his “cruel” tourist tax, which many argue will impose financial burdens on families visiting sick children in hospital, reports BritPanorama.
Alicia Kearns said Labour’s levy on hotels, B&Bs, and holiday lets would create “hardship” for families needing to stay close to loved ones undergoing medical treatment. She emphasized the need for an exemption for families facing emotionally challenging circumstances.
Kearns, who has shared her own experience of her daughter undergoing urgent neurosurgery at just four months old, called the tax inappropriate during such critical times. Her daughter suffers from unicoronal craniosynostosis, a condition that requires specialized medical attention.
After the surgery in 2021, Kearns was able to stay overnight at Great Ormond Street Hospital, while her husband used a nearby hotel. They opted for the hotel again the following night in case further complications arose.
“I completely understand poor parents who spend months of their lives living outside GOSH, having to take Airbnbs or whatever they can,” she stated, reflecting on her fortunate situation. “I’m very lucky it was only two nights and I’m very lucky that we could afford that.”
Her daughter, now five years old, has made significant progress, but Kearns highlighted the inequity that families from distant regions like Cornwall and Belfast face when they need to travel to London repeatedly for treatment.
She further lamented the unseen financial and emotional costs that families endure, arguing that imposing such a levy is morally wrong. “It’s very cruel. It’s an additional hardship on those who are already suffering,” Kearns said, warning that without a change in policy, the Prime Minister will be inflicting cruelty during already difficult moments.
Labour’s power to allow local council leaders to impose taxes for overnight stays may raise holiday costs for families, with trade group UKHospitality predicting an additional £100 per family. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan indicated that the levy in the capital would be capped at 5% of accommodation costs.
Kearns warned that the tax could damage the rural hospitality industry, where visitors typically enjoy short stays. “It will cause massive problems for areas like mine,” she said, noting that many families may choose to skip overnight visits altogether.
Children’s charities are also advocating for exemptions for those seeking medical treatment. Louise Parkes, Chief Executive of Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, stated, “A hotel levy risks placing yet another financial burden on families already facing the unimaginable pressure of having a seriously ill child; this is deeply unfair.”
Parkes emphasized that families seeking life-saving treatments should not be viewed as tourists and should be protected from added financial strain. Similarly, other organizations voiced their concerns, arguing for explicit exemptions in any future legislation regarding overnight visitor levies.
As the conversation surrounding the tourist tax continues, Kearns, among others, calls for an urgent reassessment of its implications on vulnerable families navigating the healthcare system.
A Ministry for Local Government spokesperson indicated that the decision to implement a levy would rest with local authorities, noting that the needs of medical visitors should be considered in those discussions.
The tax’s implications remain a contentious topic as discussions unfold around the broader impact on hospitality sectors and the social responsibility of local governance.
In light of these developments, the ongoing discourse underscores the tension between revenue generation and the human costs associated with healthcare access, particularly for families in distress.
