How do we resolve the Brexit mess?

[The Future’s Blue!]

We don’t.

 

[Vic]

I don’t think anyone has denied that if the price of sanitary products has gone up less than most things it’s good but at best it’s worthy of a mention in passing rather than several posts going on about it. In reality it’s been a £10m benefit to supermarkets whilst shoppers have seen prices rise by more than inflation.
https://amp.theguardian.com/politic...ther-removal-of-tampon-tax-has-lowered-prices
Even if the saving was passed on to consumers (it isn’t) it would be less than £1 per woman per year. If that’s the best benefit they can come up with then they probably need to try a little harder.

It was possible to reduce VAT on tampons to 5% in the EU anyway. We didn't.

 

[bluethrunthru]

BBC on message for the Govt and blaming a smaller economy on anything other that the B word

Strikes and wet weather cause UK economy to shrink

Official figures show the UK economy contracted by 0.5% in July, more than economists predicted.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[aguero93:20]

It was possible to reduce VAT on tampons to 5% in the EU anyway. We didn't.

It was possible to have it at 0%

Value Added Tax

Value Added Tax (VAT) is included in the price of most products and services that we use every day. You may also be liable to pay VAT if you buy online. Find out more about VAT and how it is paid.

www.citizensinformation.ie

0% (Zero) VAT rating includes all exports, tea, coffee, milk, bread, books, children’s clothes and shoes, vegetable seeds and fruit trees, fertilisers, large animal feed, oral medicine for humans and animals, disability aids such as wheelchairs, crutches and hearing aids. It was announced in Budget 2023that the 0% rate will also be extended to newspapers including digital editions (currently 9%), defibrillators and period products from 1 January 2023.


The reason they were taxed is that the UK decided they were 'luxury' products long before entering the EU. However, anyone that thinks that the UK or any other state couldn't have reduced the rate to 0 or even subsidised them without the EU taking any action? I've a bridge to sell them if they're interested.

 

[west didsblue]

It was possible to have it at 0%

Value Added Tax

Value Added Tax (VAT) is included in the price of most products and services that we use every day. You may also be liable to pay VAT if you buy online. Find out more about VAT and how it is paid.

www.citizensinformation.ie

0% (Zero) VAT rating includes all exports, tea, coffee, milk, bread, books, children’s clothes and shoes, vegetable seeds and fruit trees, fertilisers, large animal feed, oral medicine for humans and animals, disability aids such as wheelchairs, crutches and hearing aids. It was announced in Budget 2023that the 0% rate will also be extended to newspapers including digital editions (currently 9%), defibrillators and period products from 1 January 2023.


The reason they were taxed is that the UK decided they were 'luxury' products long before entering the EU. However, anyone that thinks that the UK or any other state couldn't have reduced the rate to 0 or even subsidised them without the EU taking any action? I've a bridge to sell them if they're interested.

So we’re saying that the potential Brexit benefit of an extra £1 per year for half the female population that was never realised anyway could actually have been achieved within the EU? Back to the drawing board then @RabidCity

 

[RabidCity]

So we’re saying that the potential Brexit benefit of an extra £1 per year for half the female population that was never realised anyway could actually have been achieved within the EU? Back to the drawing board then @RabidCity

That's not right - it was as a direct result of the EU withdrawal that allowed it. You can see it here -


https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tampon-tax-abolished-from-today

• move made possible by end of the transition period and freedom from EU law mandating VAT on sanitary products

It's not just about the amount, it's showing that we can make the move unilaterally.

 

[west didsblue]

That's not right - it was as a direct result of the EU withdrawal that allowed it. You can see it here -


https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tampon-tax-abolished-from-today

• move made possible by end of the transition period and freedom from EU law mandating VAT on sanitary products

It's not just about the amount, it's showing that we can make the move unilaterally.

I refer you to the post above mine.
However it’s all a bit academic as the savings were never passed on to the consumer.

 

[RabidCity]

I refer you to the post above mine.
However it’s all a bit academic as the savings were never passed on to the consumer.

That's the latest tax situation in Ireland or possibly a subsequent EU rule update, so it's not relevant to when we made the decision.

It's a demonstration of making a change where it's needed quickly and without having to align with a long bureaucratic process. The savings were passed on as I explained, shops look at prices net of VAT for pricing, so the removal of VAT doesn't lead to increased pricing, it reduces it. It might not affect you personally, but it's something I supported at the time as the right thing to do.

 

[Dage]

No matter how many times this is said on here, it’s absolute fucking rubbish.

Permanent member of the UN Security Council, one of only 5 nations to hold that privilege. A Nuclear power, member of 5 eyes, some of the world finest security services, major member of NATO, I could go on.

If you genuinely believe what you say then you don’t live in the same Nation that I do imo.

There is hard power and there is soft power. And even for the body stuff: the UK isn't able to run a military operation on its own nowadays (as every other European nation). So yes, the UK loses influence rather fast. Or do you wanna go the Russian way, blocking initiatives in the security council and threatening countries with your nuclear options?

 

[blueinsa]

There is hard power and there is soft power. And even for the body stuff: the UK isn't able to run a military operation on its own nowadays (as every other European nation). So yes, the UK loses influence rather fast. Or do you wanna go the Russian way, blocking initiatives in the security council and threatening countries with your nuclear options?

We have no need to run a military operation in our own, we are major members of NATO.

Go the Russian way?

Do you have a point?