Downing Street gives more details of plan, saying it would be charged as a percentage of accommodation costs, not a flat feeTourists in England face nightly levy on hotel and Airbnb stays under new plansThe Centre for Cities, a thinktank that focuses on promoting growth in cities, has welcomed the government’s plans to let mayors in England impose a tourism tax. This is from its chief executive, Andrew Carter.The overnight visitor levy is a great step forward for fiscal devolution. This marks […]

Labour MPs Gareth Snell and Meg Hillier say Lords must be allowed to fulfil duty in scrutinising bill on serious public issueUK politics live – latest updatesMPs who voted for and against assisted dying have urged their respective sides not to take the “extraordinary risk” of forcing through the bill using an obscure parliamentary procedure if it continues to be blocked by the Lords.Two Labour MPs have written a warning letter to colleagues in the crucial hours before the next vote on […]

Record demand for A&E units, ambulance services and NHS 111 shows extreme heat having unprecedented impact on health, experts sayThe NHS came under its most intense strain ever as a result of the summer’s five heatwaves, amid warnings that extreme heat is having an unprecedented impact on human health.A&E units, ambulance services and the NHS 111 telephone advice line all experienced record demand for their services in England in June, July and August as Britain experienced record […]

Hot weather means sweeter grapes, but outlook gloomier for beermakers, as drought diminishes barley harvestEnglish sparkling winemakers expect their earliest grape harvest and a “vintage year” after a scorching summer quickly ripened grapes.However, beer sellers have warned of a potential shortage after record-breaking temperatures and a drought hitting much of England has caused poor yields of barley. Continue reading...