- Public letter calling for period pants to be reclassified as a period product delivered to the Chancellor and the Financial Secretary to the Treasury
- Period pants currently classified as clothing which means they are subject to a 20% tax
- Comes ahead of the Autumn Statement where the Chancellor has the opportunity to make changes to the tax system
- More than 36,000 people signed the supporting petition
- M&S continue to cover the cost of VAT across its range of period pants until Government responds
L-R Janet Lindsay CEO at Wellbeing of Women, Tracey Crouch CBE MP, Binky Felstead, Laura Charles Lingerie Director at M&S, Alison Thewliss MP, Selaine Saxby MP
[Wednesday 25 October] Yesterday afternoon, 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.
- ENDS -
Notes to editors:
For further information please contact the M&S Corporate PR team on [email protected] or call 020 8718 1919.
More about M&S’ Period Pants:
- In 2021, the Government removed the ‘Tampon Tax’ and products – such as tampons, pads, and menstrual cups – stopped incurring VAT. But under current VAT rules, period pants are classified as garments and therefore subject to a tax rate of 20%. M&S and WUKA customers alone have paid more than £3 million in VAT on period pants.
- A reusable period product, period pants can be worn, washed, and worn again, month after month which means they can save consumers money and help reduce plastic waste too (WUKA estimates that one pair of period pants can save 200 single-use plastic disposables from going to landfill).
- Made from responsibly sourced cotton and sustainable modal fibre
- We only ever use responsibly sourced cotton for our clothes and the gusset will be made from responsibly sourced polyester by Spring 2024
- If customers want to dispose of their period knickers, they can simply drop them into one of our Shwop boxes in store and we will dispose of them responsibly
- Three years on from launching period pants, M&S now sells more than 6,000 packs each week. Period pants may look like regular knickers, but they are specifically designed to be leak-proof and replace the need for other period products, like pads and tampons. They are highly-absorbent, made using anti-odour technology and a multi-layer of fabric to ensure all-day comfort and freshness.
A survey of 268 women aged between 18 and 54 conducted by Toluna between 13th and 14th July found:
- 76% have never used period pants before
- 23% cite cost as a reason for not using period pants
- 68% did not realise the ‘Tampon Tax’ did not apply to period pants
- 83% are in favour of the Government removing the tax from period pants and reclassifying them as a garment