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4 Months Since Tampon Tax was Scrapped
But What Happens Now?
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Written by Jessica Janes
Tampon tax was scrapped by Chancellor Rishi Sunak on the 1st of January 2021.
However, with the tax originally coming into legislation in 1973, people are now questioning whether sanitary products will ever be free, simply because it has taken so many years for the tax to be abolished.
Fleur Anderson, Labour MP for Putney, supported the campaign led by former Labour MP Paula Sheriff in 2016, to cut tampon tax altogether.
“ I am delighted that the tampon tax has now been abolished but it should have never been there in the first place, and it should have never taken so many years to persuade MP’ s that sanitary products are essential not luxuries,” Anderson says.
Anderson believes that abolishing tampon tax has been“ a good opportunity to raise awareness about the issueand bring a lot
more people to support the campaign.” She continues:“ It’ s a reminder of how far we have to go to achieve equality and women’ s rights, and how long it takes to achieve change, but change does come.”
Anderson also campaigned against period poverty around the world for many years:“ Periods are a taboo, and all over the world girls miss out on education and women suffer as a result of rules and facilities being designed by men,” she says.
“ It’ s really important to talk about menstruation and periods as they should not be a taboo,” Anderson expands.
Sindy Aubrey, 55, a selfemployed cleaner and single mum from Wickford, Essex, is relieved the tampon tax has been scrapped.
“ With the pandemic going on I head for the pound shops for these essential items, but they should be free. Other stores are a lot more expensive as their prices have gone up considerably, which would mean me going over my monthly shopping budget per month,” Aubrey explains.
Aubrey has always found sourcing period products a struggle due to having a low-income.
Now, her risk of developing complications from Covid-19 due to a pre-existing medical condition often leaves her with limited options for buying sanitary products as she either has to order products online or shop at smaller, less crowded supermarkets.
Anderson is unsure if sanitary products will ever be free, leaving those who menstruate and are on lowincome in a difficult position.
“ I don’ t know the future plans for sanitary products and if they will ever be free, but abolishing the tampon tax has been a good opportunity to raise awareness about the issue,” she states.