Skipton and Ripon MP, Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith KCB CBE, has warned that rural communities in North Yorkshire are facing mounting pressures from recent government decisions and local policies, including what he described as a 'hammer blow' to the North Yorkshire tourism industry from the new Mayor’s proposed 'tourism tax'.
Speaking during an Opposition Day debate on rural communities, Julian highlighted the Labour Mayor's proposal to introduce a visitor levy - also referred to as a tourist tax - for the region, which would be an additional charge for overnight visitors.
During his speech in the Commons, Julian said that the Mayor was "hammering the tourism industry with a tourism tax".
Julian ended his speech by calling for urgent action to review business valuations, reassess local government funding, and develop a cumulative impact test to ensure future policies do not disproportionately harm rural areas.
Watch Julian Smith MP’s full speech here.
