Local MP leads rebellion over pasty tax and caravan tax

19th April 2012
Local MP leads rebellion over pasty tax and caravan tax

Gordon Henderson was a leading member of a backbench revolt that saw the Coalition’s majority slashed to 25.

The revolt was over the Chancellor’s proposal to change the rules relating to the imposition of VAT on hot take away food and charge VAT on static caravans that are used as holiday homes.

On hot food the proposal is that in future VAT will have to be charged on pies and pasties unless they are sold at ambient temperature. In a rousing speech that drew cheers from backbenchers on all sides of the Chamber, Mr Henderson mocked this proposal by declaring:

“How will the proposed regulation be monitored? Are we going to see hordes of VAT inspectors armed with thermometers swooping down on bakers’ customers as they leave the shop and sticking their thermometers in their pies to see whether they are hotter than the ambient temperature?”

Mr Henderson went on to criticise the Government for its proposal to charge VAT on static caravans used as holiday homes. He warned that this would have a harmful affect on Sheppey’s tourism industry. He summed up his anger at the proposal by saying:

“Let us not forget that those visitors are not wealthy people; in the main, they are working class people who strive for a better life by having their own holiday home here in Britain. In my view, the policy has been dreamt up by somebody who has never holidayed in a caravan park, has no idea of how the holiday park business operates and has no conception of the disastrous effect the policy will have on many coastal and rural communities.”

CLICK HERE to read the speech in full.