WE asked two Thurrock women to give us their reflections on the Tampon Tax.
MPs voted this week against a move to force the government to cut the so-called "Tampon Tax" down from its current 5%. Politicians rejected the Finance Bill amendment on 26 October, which would have stopped sanitary products from being classified as "non-essential luxury items" by 305 to 287 votes.
Blogpost by Connie Green
THE controversial tampon tax, probably something many of you have heard about. As a female, let me tell you personally that there is nothing luxurious about having your period. It’s that dreaded time of the month, that time when every cough and every sneeze is a risk. Funnily enough, I have actually said that to some of my male friends and I usually get the response of “ew” or “can you please not talk about that? It’s making me uncomfortable.”
To these responses, I usually laugh. The so called ‘period conversation’ is a bonding time for people who go through it; we like to share our nastiest stories and coping methods. People who don’t go through this do not enjoy our conversations. They are too gross and unnecessary.
And yet, my periods are considered a luxury. The only form of control I have over my periods is through the pill – something the government pays for I might add – but other than that I have no control over it. I cannot control my own bodily functions. This isn’t like when you need to urinate but you can hold it until you are at a more convenient place, no. We need tampons and other sanitary products because we need to stay hygienic (the clue is in the name sanitary products).
Do you want to know something we don’t need to stay hygienic? Razors. If I do not shave my legs, my hygiene is not affected. If a male does not shave his face, his hygiene is not affected. And yet, razors are not taxed as luxurious items. If I do not use sanitary products, my hygiene is affected as is the hygiene of those around me. Blood is unsanitary, and unhygienic and it spreads diseases.
During ones period, it is crucial that the vagina is clean otherwise it can get infected. How do you keep the vagina clean? Sanitary products. Where do you go to if your vagina is infected? The NHS. And who pays for that again? Oh yes, I remember.
A 5% tax on necessary products is ridiculous. The MP for Thurrock – someone this tax would effect – voted against scrapping the tampon tax. 305 MPs voted against scrapping the tampon tax, 303 of which were conservative. Now, don’t get me wrong, I understand the need for taxes. However what I don’t understand is how sanitary products are considered a luxury while crocodile meat isn’t. 263,022 people signed a petition to end the tampon tax and yet just because 305 people voted against it, those signatures mean nothing.
However, it is clear to see on any form of social media, that the public are not happy with the outcome, so I do hope that all the MPs who voted against it do not think that the issue is over.
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Sandra Elliott
I stumbled on the petition to abolish what’s become known as the tampon tax back in March this year. Until then, I was completely unaware that all sanitary products are subject to 5% VAT as they are classed by the EU as luxury non-essential goods. I can tell you, they are not non-essential and they are certainly not luxurious. I signed the petition and watched closely as the issue gained momentum and was finally put before parliament this week. The bill was defeated 305 to 287 – only 18 votes – but the fight will go on as the Treasury go to the EU to negotiate an end to this unfair tax.
When the names of the MPs who voted against abolishing this tax were published I had a look to see if the name of my MP in Thurrock – Jackie Doyle-Price – was there, and I’m sad to say it was. My initial gut reaction was that she should be ashamed. As a representative of the people and as a woman herself she has shown that she doesn’t care about something that affects not only her but me and more than half the population every month. It’s hard to understand any woman not being completely behind the abolition of this tax regardless of party politics. We don’t choose to menstruate but maybe we should all choose to forego the ‘luxury’ of tampons, pads and the like. After all, if they are non-essential products, we don’t need them, right? I could get graphic here about the consequences of women not using sanitary products but that’s just resorting to unnnecessary shock tactics. Unfortunately Ms Doyle-Price wasn’t the only female MP on the list so I’ve since extended my disappointment to all of those listed. I didn’t vote for Ms Doyle-Price in the last election, and I think now it is very unlikely that I would ever consider voting for her in the future.
