The reversal – which was justified by Ministers on the basis that period products had been made free in some locations around the island – was approved with 25 votes for and 21 against.
During the debate, the Chief Minister was repeatedly criticised for being the politician to lobby for that original decision to remove the 5% GST when John Le Fondré was in Government, and she was a backbench Senator.
Erosion of political trust
Among her original arguments was the fact that Jersey remains the only place in the British Isles to have what has become known as the ‘tampon tax’ and that taxing these items meant that they were viewed as a ‘luxury’ item.
Pictured: Deputy Feltham has previously criticized the Chief Minister for her change in stance on the ‘tampon tax’.
Deputy Lyndsay Feltham of Reform Jersey, who has been vocal about her “disappointment” in Deputy Moore’s U-turn, branding it “disingenuous”, said she was “incredibly disappointed that some of the members who had previously taken the principle to remove GST had seemingly changed their principles in the course of 18 months.”
Gov raising revenue from a “discriminatory tax”
“I question what message that sends out to the general public about trusting politicians,” she continued.
She added: “Whilst the government maintains that they are doing better by providing products for free, and I support them providing those for free, it still doesn’t address the issues around the government raising revenue through the sale of these items, which are only bought by certain people in the society.”
“It is a discriminatory tax, and it does concern me that the government are raising revenue in that way.”
Retail “red herring”?
Arguments raised in the debate from the Chief Minister and her Assistant Ministers included that the exemption would not be passed on from retailers to consumers, and that savings would be greater if islanders used products available at 32 locations around Jersey.
Social Security Minister Elaine Millar called it a matter of “simple maths”.
However, Deputy Feltham said these were “red herrings” and “not persuasive”, hoping to re-focus the debate on the principle of taxation.
“Retailers have clearly said they will pass that saving on,” she noted. Among them was Mark Cox, Chief Executive of the Channel Island’s Coop, who previously told Express he would have “no hesitation” in passing on the reduction if GST was removed.
She continued: “We’ve spoken to many women who have either found there are no free products available or that the products don’t suit their needs, so it comes across that the offering is more complimentary or emergency in nature.”
“We need to hold Ministers’ feet to the fire”
Free products were first made available to islanders in October 2022, and since then, the number of locations has been expanded.
But Deputy Feltham said the plan from now on was “to ensure that they follow up on promises made in the debate and in manifestos” regarding delivering products to those in need and providing free products at pharmacies.
“We need to hold Ministers’ feet to the fire on delivering on those pie-in-the-sky promises, because the Treasury Minister put aside no additional funds to allow them to do that.”
HOW THEY VOTED…
The U-turn was approved with 25 votes for and 21 against, with all Ministers and Assistant Ministers supporting the rescindment.
Those voting in favour were:
Ministers: Kristina Moore (Chief Minister), Kirsten Morel (Deputy Chief Minister), Tom Binet, Inna Gardiner, Ian Gorst, Carolyn Labey, Helen Miles, Elaine Millar, Jonathan Renouf, David Warr, Karen Wilson
Assistant Ministers: Steve Ahier, Rose Binet, Alex Curtis, Louise Doublet, Malcolm Ferey, Andy Jehan, Hilary Jeune, Lucy Stephenson
Backbenchers: Andy Howell, Mike Jackson, Deirdre Mezbourian, Philip Le Sueur, Moz Scott, Barbara Ward