Tourism tax

Yesterday

The Spectator

Which prime ministers have sporting achievements?

From our UK edition

Premier sports Andy Burnham took part in the Great North Run, a half marathon, finishing in 1 hour 57 minutes. Some other prime ministers who competed in office: – Edward Heath captained his sailing boat, Morning Cloud, on the 600-mile Fastnet Yacht Race, finishing in 14th place but helping Great Britain to regain the Admiral’s Cup. – Alec Douglas-Home took part in charity cricket matches while PM, having played first-class cricket for Oxford University and Middlesex in his younger days. – Keir Starmer continued to put in the occasional match for a five-a-side football team in Kentish Town. Party favours Reform received two record-breaking donations totalling £72 million in 48 hours.

Martin Vander Weyer

Could I bear to vote for Zack Polanski?

From our UK edition

Will Labour’s ‘visitor levy’ generate £52 million of revenue for public spending in York and North Yorkshire, as a House of Commons briefing suggests? Or will it deter holidaymakers from exploring the region I love – and every other English destination where the levy is applied – while piling adversity on a hospitality trade already caned by employment cost hikes and tight consumer wallets? Modelling by the Tax Policy Associates thinktank offers a central estimate that the proposed tax on overnight stays (at up to 5 per cent, as set by local authorities) could raise £603 million a year for the loss of 5.8 million room-nights and £689 million in overall visitor spending, roughly half from overseas.