David Ruffley MP has today voiced his opposition to Gordon Brown's and John Prescott's latest money-making ruse- a new stealth tax on British holidays.

The Government has asked Sir Michael Lyons to produce plans for new local taxes. In his interim report, he raised the prospect of a new local levy on hotels, bed and breakfasts and hostels.

In the last few weeks the Government Minister for Tourism, Shaun Woodward, has refused to rule out the new tax and stated 'we have to balance the books'.

This tax would be on top of existing business rates and VAT on hotel bills. Based on similar taxes in other countries, this could potentially add £100 a week to the cost of a family holiday or visit to Britain's tourist destinations. Less well-off families would be the hardest hit.

David Ruffley is determined to see Suffolk remain a top tourist destination.

In St Edmundsbury Borough Council area alone there are over 50 hotels and bed and breakfasts. The East of England Tourist Board claim that in 2003, the latest year for which figures are available, the total direct tourism spend in St Edmundsbury was £122,613,000.

David said:

'The brilliant summer weather has shown what a great place Suffolk is to spend a short break or a holiday. However, the great British holiday is under threat from a bed & breakfast stealth tax - Gordon Brown's latest money-making ploy.

'There is nothing wrong with choosing to travel abroad, but no-one will benefit from making British holidays a rip-off. Gordon Brown and John Prescott have already hiked up council tax bills across Suffolk and the country. Now I fear they want to hike the price of a British break.

'Figures from the East of England Tourist Board suggest that in 2003, the latest year for which figures are available, the total direct tourism spend in St Edmundsbury was over £122 million. This revenue includes the spending of some 187,000 staying visitors and over 3 million day visitors.

'I am determined to see that Suffolk remains a top tourist destination and will be vigorously opposing the Chancellor's new plans to tax tourists out of Suffolk.'