What are the party leaders’ travel policies this election?

1. Air Passenger Duty

The Brexit Party does not have a specific policy for a number of issues, including APD, because it says it is not attempting to form the next government.

Last month, the party announced it would not contest any Conservative-held seats. However, a spokesperson told TTG the party’s general “strategic direction” is for lower and simpler taxes.

“Since we do not have aspirations, or present ourselves as, forming the next government, we have a targeted set of proposals that we believe can become mainstream and with which we hope we can lead the agenda,” said the spokesperson.

2. Business rates

Continuing this focus, the Brexit Party says it would replace business rates with a “simpler system”. Any revenue reductions would be funded with an online sales tax, but the spokesperson did not offer any specific details on how this might be implemented.

It has also pledged to make any business with a pre-tax profit less than £50,000 exempt from corporation tax.

3. Prioritising Tourism

Nigel Farage’s party would invest £2.5 billion in fishing and coastal communities, which a spokesperson said have “much potential” for tourism.

The manifesto – which it has coined a “Contract with the People” – reads: “The Brexit Party supports investment in key public services, the environment, fishing and strategic industries – partly financed by saving our annual contribution to the EU.”

According to the Office for National Statistics, the UK’s gross contribution to the EU technically came to £20 billion in 2018. However, this amount was never transferred, as it is a “theoretical liability”.

4. Airport Expansion

The Brexit Party has no policy on airport expansion. However, in an interview on Good Morning Britain in June 2018, Farage said Gatwick was a “more logical place” than Heathrow.

“If you just look at the traffic and the infrastructure around Heathrow, frankly during rush hour, it barely works now,” he said. “So the idea there will be a huge expansion there I am very sceptical about.

“A lot of the tourist holiday business could be pushed to other places.”

1. Air Passenger Duty

In 2016, the Scottish National Party (SNP) introduced a policy to cut APD by 50%. However, the party dropped these plans this summer, explaining in a statement they were “not compatible” with its target to deliver net-zero emissions by 2045.

“This is an important step in meeting our tougher climate targets and rising to the climate emergency challenge, and the government has not taken this decision lightly,” it said.

“We will continue to support our tourism industry, which is going from strength to strength, and we are committed to finding new ways to back the industry.”

2. Business Rates

The SNP-led government in Scotland has already introduced a Small Business Bonus Scheme to provide non-domestic rate relief worth £1.7 billion for small businesses in the country.

This year, it is offering a 10-year relief for new fibre broadband installations to help businesses.

3. Prioritising Tourism

The SNP would introduce an islands passport marketing scheme to encourage tourism to Scotland’s 80 inhabited islands.

A spokesperson said the country will carry on securing major tourism events, following on from the Commonwealth Games and Solheim Cup in recent years.

Glasgow’s Hampden Park is one of the venues for the Uefa European Championships 2020, and the city will host the first-ever UCI all-discipline Cycling World Championships in 2023.

“Scotland’s tourism industry is going from strength to strength – spending by tourists in Scotland generates around £12 billion,” said a spokesperson.

The SNP has also called on the UK government to examine a reduction in hospitality VAT to support tourism.

4. Airport Expansion

An SNP spokesperson did not provide any details on its policy regarding airport expansion. In 2016 the Scottish government signed a memorandum backing the Heathrow airport expansion because it was predicted to provide up to 16,000 new jobs in Scotland. However, this summer, the SNP announced a review of that policy.

1. Air Passenger Duty

Plaid Cymru would like the devolution of Air Passenger Duty for Wales, as is the case in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

This has been on the party’s agenda for many years – in 2014, Plaid Cymru’s Jonathan Edwards told the House of Commons that it was “a slap in the face to Wales” that APD was not included in a Wales Bill.

At that time, a Parliamentary bid by Plaid to devolve APD was rejected.

2. Business rates

Not specifically mentioning business rates, the party would like to devolve corporation tax and reverse its planned cut from 19% to 17%.

The party would establish a formal relationship between the Welsh Government and the Consular Association in Wales to develop a strategy to enhance the Welsh economy.

3. Prioritising tourism

In its manifesto, Plaid’s manifesto reads: “We want to promote Wales as a high quality, sustainable tourism destination with activities and experiences based on our natural resources, our produce, our unique coastline and landscape, and our language, culture and heritage.

“We will increase funding for tourism promotion for Wales to take its place amongst the best destinations worldwide.”

It goes on to say the Welsh tourism industry is “held back by unfair taxes” – it would like to see tourism VAT on hospitality cut to 9%.

Additionally, it would establish a National Academy for the Welsh tourism sector to provide hands-on learning and advocate associate membership of the UN World Tourism Organisation.

It said it would “improve the tourist experience” by implementing joined-up services, giving hotels the latest tourism information, and making sure public transport is available.

4. Airport expansion

Plaid Cymru opposes the third runway at Heathrow, saying it would cost £14 billion.

If these “English projects” go ahead, Plaid said it would push for extra funding for Wales. It describes this as “a full proportionate share”.

1. Air Passenger Duty

The DUP would abolish domestic APD, branding it a “faux environmental tax that has a disproportionately negative impact on peripheral parts of the UK”.

2. Business Rates

This party’s manifesto does not specifically mention business rates, but Arlene Foster’s party says it would keep corporation tax rates under review “to ensure it remains competitive”.

It says it will also increase employment allowance for National Insurance to £4,000 and abolish the Apprenticeship Levy and replace it with a ringfenced private sector fee.

Citing the collapse of Thomas Cook, the DUP said it would overhaul corporate governance and audit to restore trust in business.

3. Prioritising Tourism

Although the DUP manifesto does not make any specific reference to the tourism industry, it does say it would introduce a same distance travelled policy with regard to climate emissions targets.

This would see each country in the UK given a different emissions target, reflecting “the distinct opportunities and challenges they face”.

It reads: “It must be recognised that Northern Ireland is the UK region with the greatest distance to travel and sectors that will be the most difficult to transform.”

4. Airport Expansion

The DUP has said a third runway at Heathrow airport is “the best solution for the UK”, on the condition of designated slots for regional connections.

It also said Northern Ireland is “well placed” to host one of the Heathrow construction hubs.

The party also supports “up-to-date airports”.