End Tampon Tax: 'Oi George Osborne, stop taxing our bloody periods’
More than 200,000 people want the Government to ditch a five per cent tax on sanitary products for women. Radhika Sanghani went to Downing Street to see the petition handed in (not to mention a few tampon ballons and bemused police)
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Women protested tampon tax outside Downing Street
“One two three four, don’t you tax me anymore. Five six seven eight, tampon tax is out of date.”
Not what you'd necessarily expect to hear 60 women (and two men) chant outside Downing Street.
Their words were directed at chancellor George Osborne. Their mission
was written across tampon balloons and sanitary pads: “Stop taxing our
bloody tampons.”
The group of student protesters were there to hand in a petition to ‘#EndTamponTax’, which has more than 200,775 signatures calling for the UK Government to stop classifying sanitary products as a 'luxuries.’
Ever since 1973, women have been paying tax on sanitary products
because the Government deemed them 'non-essential' items. At the time
the tax rate for these goods was 17.5 per cent, but in 2001 – after a
lot of campaigning – it dropped to five percent.
But now women are calling for Osborne to finally reduce the UK’s “outdated, damaging” sanitary tax from five per cent to zero.
Laura Coryton, a 22-year-old student at Goldsmiths University, started the petition and dropped it off to number 11 Downing Street on Wednesday. She’s now awaiting a response.
“I can’t wait to see what they have to say about it,” she told me. “It’s so important to get rid of tampon tax. It was introduced by a male-dominated Government in 1973 and it has sexist undertones.
“It’s really important we oppose it. Especially when other luxury items such as helicopters aren’t taxed. Nor are edible sugar flowers, marshmallow teacakes and medical products.”
The dozens of students outside Downing Street agreed with her.
“Tampons are considered a luxury item but they’re something 50 per cent of the world have to deal with,” explained 19-year-old English student Daisy Catterall. “It’s just sexist. Condoms are free on the NHS, so why are tampons taxed?”
Saran Morgan, a Queen Mary’s University student, held a sign that read: “I would throw tampons but they’re too expensive.”
She said: “I came today because it’s something I feel strongly about and gender equality is something we’re striving towards.
“I don’t want my children to grow up worrying about the same things I worried about.”
The rest of the women spoke about the impact that ‘tampon tax’ had on them.
But there were also two lone male supporters who – though not directly affected by the tax – were there to show solidarity.
“There’s not a lot of guys involved, which I feel is a shame,” said 21-year-old student Paul Hawkins.
“It’s because men feel they might get teased for supporting women’s rights. But it’s more of a human issue rather than a gender issue. I want guys to understand it’s not just for women.
Paul Hawkins “For [periods] to be seen as a luxury is absolutely ridiculous. It’s less to do with the Government deliberately taxing it - it's more that they’ve looked over it and not found it all that important.”
Chester Rolink, 21, the other man present, only found out about tampon tax that morning. His reaction? He thought it was “absolutely mental.”
“Yeah, it’s absolutely shocking,” he said, as he rolled a cigarette. “I’m always up for an opportunity to voice concern.”
And voiced the protesters' concerns were.
They chanted “towels and tampons should be free – not subject to VAT” to the point that a Downing Street police officer shook his head saying: “Words fail me. ‘End tampon tax’ are words you never think you’ll say together.
“I’ve said them about 15 times today.”
His response was exactly what the protesters wanted to hear.
“That’s what it all about,” said one woman. “Getting people to talk about something they’re never thought about before. Let’s hope it makes a difference.”
Editor comment: only a male government would regard tampons as a luxury (and to be fair, those
men are long gone from office).
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