Tomorrow is International Womxn’s Day, so yesterday there were numerous stupid statements by female MPs in the House of Commons. But this one, concerning a decision made by our male Chancellor, takes the biscuit. A piece in yesterday’s Daily Mail, making it crystal clear that calls for the abolition of the “tampon tax” was always driven by feminist charities seeking more money from taxpayers. Extracts:
The ‘tampon tax’ will be abolished in the Budget with VAT no longer charged on sanitary products from the start of next year…
The Treasury estimates the move will save the average woman nearly £40 over her lifetime, [J4MB emphasis: So, a tiny fraction of the money the average woman will spend on lipsticks over her lifetime.] with a cut of 7p on a pack of 20 tampons and 5p on 12 pads.
Critics have long criticised the tax for contributing to ‘period poverty’, where sanitary products are pushed out of reach because of their cost.
Campaigners last night welcomed the end of the tampon tax but raised concerns the Treasury is not planning to replace the tampon tax fund with other investment.
Vivienne Hayes, chief executive of the Women’s Resource Centre charity, said: ‘We are over the moon to learn of this news. Tampons and sanitary towels were never luxury items and should never have been subject to VAT.
‘Congratulations to all the women who campaigned so long for this ridiculous and unfair tax to be removed. We are concerned that the tampon tax fund will now be abandoned by the Government and we hope to see a replacement fund for women’s health and support charities announced in the near future.’
Campaigners also urged Boris Johnson to go further and spend the £700million they estimate has been raised during the tax’s lifetime on women’s charities.
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