Most people will agree that tampons can’t be classed as a ‘luxury’ item, yet in 2015 the UK government still taxes 5% VAT.
Despite calls for the tax to be abolished, MPs voted last week to keep the tax meaning that woman still have to pay the price for having periods.
Seems unfair, right?
To make matters worse, the government continues to withhold taxing items that they claim are ‘essential’.
This bizarre list of items deemed more ‘essential’ than tampons include:
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Edible sugar flowers
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Alcoholic jellies
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Crocodile and kangaroo meat
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Helicopters
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Bingo
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Toffee apples
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Zoo tickets
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Herbal tea
As the cost of living increases, purchasing products such as sanitary towels and tampons can create a strain on our purse strings.
One woman told the Independent following the vote: “There was a time I was really squeezed for cash and I had to resort to asking friends for pads and count my pennies until I had a pound to buy products from the pound shop.
“Menstrual products are essentials and they shouldn't be as expensive as they are – something needs to change.”
Mole Valley MP Sir Paul Beresford explained why he voted against the tax: "I haven't really had time to think about it, I followed my party. I'm afraid I just went in and voted with the whip.
He told the Dorking and Leather Advertiser: “It [the bill] couldn't have worked, what would have had to be done is to try and get the change in the EU and action will now be taken. The motion was inappropriate. The tax rate in the UK is already the lowest it can be in the EU."
Over 260,000 people have now signed a petition calling for the tax to be abolished.
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