A Knaresborough political candidate has launched a public challenge demanding Metro Mayor David Skaith defend a potential regional “tourist tax” in an open debate—though records show the official invitation was only sent after media fact-checking.
Tyler Reeton, the Conservative Party local champion for Knaresborough East, contacted local media over the weekend announcing he had “challenged” the York and North Yorkshire Mayor to a public showdown over the controversial overnight visitor levy.
However, following a request for verification by the Harrogate Informer, compliance documents reveal that the formal invitation email to Mayor Skaith’s team was not actually submitted until 08:47 AM this morning—days after the campaign went public to the press.
The Economic Battleground
Despite the timeline scramble, the move highlights deepening anxiety among local traders regarding the government’s newly granted mayoral powers to levy charges on overnight visitor stays.
Knaresborough’s local economy remains fiercely dependent on its landmark tourism assets, including the castle, the river, and the iconic viaduct. Local business groups argue that independent high street shops, cafés, pubs, and B&Bs are already overstretched by rising operational pressures.
In his correspondence, Reeton argued that local hospitality businesses have “very little room” left to manoeuvre following sharp hikes to National Insurance and business rates.
“A charge that makes staying here more expensive risks putting visitors off, and when that happens the whole town pays,” Reeton stated. “If the Mayor thinks a tourist tax is a good idea for the region, including Knaresborough, he should come here and explain it to the people it’ll affect.”
Spokesperson for the Mayor, commenting today, said: The Mayor’s focus has been, and will remain, talking to businesses that make up the tourism and hospitality sector and to elected members who represent their communities.