Thursday 17 September 2026 5:02 am  |  Updated:  Wednesday 16 September 2026 12:09 pm

Britain needs tax devolution, but beware of fiscal war

By: Tim Sarson

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Britain is an outlier for tax centralisation, but devolution can go badly wrong, says Tim Sarson

Last week government front benchers and local leaders from across England got together at Number 10 North to discuss the details of a new Visitor Levy, or tourism tax. 

Quite a momentous moment in its own way, because this is the first time a new taxing power has been granted to English regions in decades.

Devolution is on the march. At least the idea of it. If things shape out as the Prime Minister has suggested, the political and fiscal structure of this country is going to look very different in a few years’ time. For a tax policy specialist at a firm that’s highly regional with offices the length and breadth of the country, this is rather a fascinating development. 

So far what’s on offer, beyond the visitor levy, seems to be largely about spending rather than taxing powers. Westminster continues to collect our taxes, but mayors of........

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