A Labour MSP has criticised a Scottish Government minister who controversially called for a new tax on campervans to be introduced in the Western Isles.
Outer Hebrides MSP Alasdair Allan has asked his colleagues to consider the “motorhome levy”after highlighting a near tenfold increase in the number of the vehicles to the Western Isles.
But Lewis Macdonald MSP said: “This is a remarkable intervention from an SNP minister that raises serious questions about the Nationalists’ position on a tourism tax.
“Not only has he finally accepted the SNP government’s ferry procurement was simply wrong and has led to inadequate capacity, he now seems to have broken ranks to back giving local authorities greater tax raising powers.
“Scottish Labour advocated for the tourism tax as part of a basket of measures for local authorities to raise additional revenue amid SNP cuts.
“The SNP rejected that proposal before the local government elections in May – but now seem to back it.
“The SNP government must now urgently clarify their position on a tourism tax.”
A spokesman for Mr Allan said: “As Alasdair Allan made clear, there is no government proposal for a levy of this kind, only a debate about the question among many people in his constituency which he invited colleagues to offer a view on.”
