Murdo told the SNP Government that SNP and LibDem Councillors in Perth and Kinross should join forces with their Conservative counterparts and put any plans for the Visitor Levy “in the bin.”
He recently raised the matter during General Questions at the Scottish Parliament. The SNP Government recently announced it will now give Councils the power to levy a fixed rate amount of Visitor Levy, or a range of fixed amounts based on factors such as time of year or types of accommodation.
Speaking during the General Question session, Murdo said: “I very much welcome the dramatic U-turn from the SNP Government to allow Councils extra flexibility in future following sustained pressure from the Scottish Conservatives and from the tourist industry.
“However, in the meantime councils are of course continuing to progress their plans for a Visitor Levy, including in Perth and Kinross, which is part of the region I represent, where a public consultation disclosed 68% opposition to the Visitor Levy, with just 29% in favour.
“Given the overwhelming rejection of the notion of the Visitor Levy in Perth and Kinross, would the Minister join with me in calling on SNP and Liberal Democrat Councillors in Perth and Kinross to ditch plans and join with Conservative Councillors in calling for them to be put in the bin, where they deserve to be?”
Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee responded by saying that it was a matter for the Council to decide.
Speaking after the session, Murdo commented: “I was expecting the Minister to say it wasn’t up to the Scottish Government to tell Councils how to run their affairs. However, he didn’t mention that the Scottish Government could have avoided their shambolic handling of the Visitor Levy.
“The SNP refused to listen to our Party when we proposed sensible amendments as it progressed through committee stage and that only created huge uncertainty for businesses and local authorities for too long, before we finally forced the U-turn.”
Murdo continued: “There is overwhelming opposition to the Visitor Levy in Perth and Kinross so it is obvious that the SNP-run Council must see sense and ditch the Levy and consign it in the bin where it belongs.”
