Tory MPs plan to increase the price of food and children’s clothes by 15% (and hike energy bills too)

The Tory Free Enterprise group has today released its list of demands suggestions for George Osborne ahead of the Autumn Statement. Most of the press so far has been on them calling for tax cuts, but there’s something far worse lurking in their statement. 

They want to abolish VAT exemptions and shift the VAT rate to 15%. That means food, children’s clothes and much else besides would suddenly become 15% more expensive.

It’d also add over £100 to energy bills – as Labour MP Phil Wilson has noted this afternoon:

“This shocking proposal to increase the price of food and children’s clothes by 15% shows the true face of David Cameron’s Conservative Party. They don’t understand the pressures facing British families, and they just don’t care. At a time when families are facing a cost of living crisis, you have to be spectacularly out of touch to suggest putting VAT on food, children’s clothes and books.

“And their plan to raise VAT on gas and electricity to 15% would add £120 to the average energy bill.

So will the 42 Tory MPs who are members of the Free Enterprise Group (including Government Ministers) stand by this plan? That would be very brave of them…