This week supporters for Say Pants to the Tax – a campaign led by M&S and WUKA to level the playing field on period products – visited Downing Street.
M&S, together with one of the retailer’s ambassadors, TV personality and entrepreneur, Alexandra ‘Binky’ Felstead, Tracey Crouch CBE MP, Selaine Saxby MP, Alison Thewliss MP, Janet Lindsay, CEO at Wellbeing of Women delivered a letter to the Chancellor and the Financial Secretary urging them to make period pants free from VAT.
Laura Charles, lingerie director at M&S, who delivered the letter, said: “Yesterday, on Downing Street, M&S came together with an incredible cohort of women to hand-deliver a letter that has had overwhelming support from a breadth of politicians, retailers, charities, and business leaders asking for the Government to level the playing field on period products. Just one month away from the Autumn Statement and we’re not throwing in the towel – we urge the Chancellor to do the right thing and make this official legislation. It’s a tiny percentage of the Government’s budget but a change that will make a big difference to women’s budgets across the country.”
Binky Felstead said: “I’m so proud to be involved in supporting a cause that would make such a big difference to so many women. It was an honour to join Laura, Tracey, Selaine, Alison and Janet yesterday and I really hope the Chancellor delivers some good news next month.”
Alison Thewliss MP said: “The Chancellor has already accepted the logic of removing VAT on sanitary products, so it’s only right that he extends that VAT cut to period pants. They are essential for many women and girls and have the bonus of being better for the environment than disposable products. I’m proud to stand with the campaign to Say Pants to the Tax!”
Selaine Saxby MP said: “I am glad that in 2021, the Government removed the ‘Tampon Tax’ from women’s sanitary products. However, a 20% VAT still applies to period pants which I believe is unacceptable which is why I have signed an open letter calling for the removal of VAT on period pants to level the playing field on period products. I support M&S’ campaign because it is just not right in my mind that women trying to reduce their impact on the environment pay tax on their more environmentally friendly period products. I would like to say a huge thank you to M&S for championing ‘Say Pants To The Tax’ and it was great to take this campaign to Downing Street. I do hope it will be included in the Autumn Statement because whatever period product someone chooses to use, it should be VAT free.”
Tracey Crouch CBE MP said: “I strongly believe that nobody should be taxed no matter what period product they choose so when the Government made the decision abolish the tampon tax it was a proud moment for women, politicians, and campaigners across the country. What we’re asking of the Chancellor at this year’s Autumn Statement is to simply finish the job that was started by his Government in 2021 – to remove the twenty percent tax on period pants and level the playing field for good.”
Janet Lindsay, chief executive of Well-being of Women, said: “Buying period products is not optional for women. Making them more affordable should therefore be a priority and dropping this tax on period pants would show that the Government can understand this. Period pants are better for the environment and more sustainable in the long term.”
The letter amassed more than 70 signatories including – the UK’s top five knicker retailers, M&S Primark, George at Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury’s, charities including Freedom4Girls, Bloody Good Period, A Plastic Planet and MPs and peers across all parties also signed the letter.
The delivery of the letter comes ahead of the Autumn Statement on the 22nd November and is the culmination of Say Pants to the Tax – a campaign that M&S and period pants brand, WUKA launched in August and is backed by a parliamentary petition that accumulated more than 36,000 signatures.
In September, M&S pledged to pass the entirety of the cost saving onto customers which means a three pack of period knickers that currently retail at £20 has a lower price of £16, until the government commits to Say Pants to the Tax.
