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Without a tourist tax, we can wave goodbye to free museum admission

Without a tourist tax, we can wave goodbye to free museum admission

Times4 days ago
Even a cynical old hack like me can't believe that governments actually set out to destroy the arts. No, it's usually the law of unintended consequences that wreaks havoc on culture. For instance, establish rigorous targets to improve children's literacy and numeracy, and the unintended consequence is that schools cut music and art to make time for more maths and English. Or bring in Brexit to 'take back control', and the unintended consequence is that UK performers find themselves tangled in red tape if they try to tour Europe.
Now The Times tells us that Angela Rayner's plan to give directly elected mayors powers to tax tourists through a levy on hotel accommodation has been scuppered by the Treasury, who fear it could further damage businesses already clobbered by higher national insurance and an increased minimum wage. And sure enough, this veto could also have unintended and damaging consequences for arts institutions.
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