Sanitary products are a point of contention in the Houses of Parliament.
The tax that places sanitary products like tampons on the same level as a 'luxury item' was fiercely questioned by the public, but after much debate, the taxes remained the same.
Rather unsatisfyingly, the money made from the taxes was diverted into charities and funds for that benefit women (for example, charities that tackle domestic violence).
Many people pointed out the hypocrisy of making women pay for their own victimhood, considering it is women who buy sanitary products. This fury was exacerbated by the recent discovery that some of the tampon tax funds were going to an anti-abortion charity.
Unfortunately, this wasn't the end of it and news broke earlier this year that girls in Britain were skipping school because they or their parents couldn't afford sanitary products.
Thankfully, the Liberal Democrats have announced in their manifesto that they plan to provide free sanitary products to schools.
The Guardian reports that Liberal Democrat peer and party spokesperson for equalities said that the current situation is 'disgraceful'. He stated:
The Liberal Democrats would end period poverty immediately by ensuring schoolgirls had access to basic sanitary products, ensuring they can continue their education uninterrupted and with dignity.
Whether or not the Lib Dems get voted in, it's great to see the issue get some traction, and maybe the winning party will adopt the policy if it's popular enough.
Daisy Murray is the Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, spotlighting emerging designers, sustainable shopping, and celebrity style. Since joining in 2016 as an editorial intern, Daisy has run the gamut of fashion journalism - interviewing Molly Goddard backstage at London Fashion Week, investigating the power of androgynous dressing and celebrating the joys of vintage shopping.
