The Labour party have this morning released a poster on the coalition's 2010 VAT (Value Added Tax) rise, in which they claim adds "£450 extra..on your shopping bill". Independent sources put the figure much lower than the £450 Labour claim and are between £225 and £307 added to the average family due to the rise in VAT.
However the other problem with Labour's poster is that the image they've used includes items that are not subject to VAT including the fruit and vegetables. The guide from Her Majestey's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) about what is and what isn't subject to VAT is clear. It has been suggested by some commentators that "Labour are playing fast and loose with the truth" not only on the figure Labour are using but on the fact the poster suggests there is VAT on food.
Labour's new VAT poster
A Lib Dem source told me that: "Labour are misleading the public with this message. It is a clear and blatant smear which says the coalition have introduced VAT on food which, as Labour know, is completely untrue." A Labour spokesman responding to the criticism of Labour's poster commented "It is not an itemised list of everything they've increased VAT on. It's representative of the average shopping basket"
Unsurprisingly the spoof versions have already started to appear on social media. here are is one of them:
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| Matthew Clarke |
