A tax too far

The revelation that changes in tax regulations will cost the region hundreds of jobs have shocked the holiday trade. The end of the bitter winter – both economically and literally – is finally approaching and tourism leaders were counting on the green shoots of spring to herald a positive start to the busy summer season.

This hope has been shattered by Gordon Brown as he desperately tries to find some money to throw into the Treasury's woefully empty coffers.

When the changes were announced in 2009, Whitehall number crunchers dismissed fears of job losses, but new research from the Tourism Alliance has revealed their forecasts were wildly inaccurate.

The Government is hoping to claw in as much tax as possible, but the estimation is that 500 jobs could still go in Yorkshire. If this was so, it would mean 500 more people no longer paying tax and having to claim benefits (at the public's expense).

If Mr Brown has any sense, he will offer the tourism industry a break so it can concentrate on their number one priority – persuading holiday-makers to spend their hard-earned money in Yorkshire, and not overseas, this year.