Proposals to end pricing gap between similar products for men and women

An MP has launched a bid to stop products from being priced differently based on whether they are targeted towards men or women.

Liberal Democrat Christine Jardine will introduce a bill at Westminister on Tuesday which would ban differentiated pricing on products that are similar for men and women – such as razors and deodorants.

For years, campaigners have called on the UK Government to take action to end the so-called “pink tax”, indicating that many products could be almost identical and yet those targeted towards women are more expensive.

In 2016, health retailer Boots announced that it would lower the price of some of its razors for women to bring them within line of those for men.

Ms Jardine’s Gender-based Pricing (Prohibition) Bill will have its first reading on Tuesday.

The MP for Edinburgh West said that women were being hit by a “double whammy”, following the impact of the gender pay gap.

She said: “It is entirely unacceptable that in 2019 women and girls are still paying more than men for basic products, such as razors and deodorant.

“Whilst women are often still being paid less too, women really are being hit by a double whammy.

“Products marketed at women are on average considerably more expensive than those marketed at men.

“Often the only difference is the colour, yet this unfair price gap will have a significant financial impact on a woman over the course of her life.

“Liberal Democrats demand better. It’s time to get rid of this price gap. My Bill would remove this outdated and sexist tax on women once and for all.”