Brexit should mean the return of duty free for trips in Europe, Tory MPs tell Chancellor Philip Hammond
Forty Conservatives have called for changes to VAT ready for March 30, 2019 Duty free sales have been banned at ports for UK-EU journeys since 1999But the MPs say Brexit should mean a rapid reversal of the policy on Brexit day
By
Tim Sculthorpe, Deputy Political Editor For Mailonline
Published:
09:54 BST, 28 August 2017
| Updated:
11:37 BST, 28 August 2017
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Britons should be able to get duty free on trips in Europe straight away after Brexit, 40 Tory MPs have told Chancellor Philip Hammond today.
The senior group, which includes 1922 Committee chief Graham Brady, want changes to VAT rules ready to kick in when Brexit happens on March 30, 2019.
EU rules have meant no duty free in ports and airports for journeys within the EU since 1999.
Scrapping the rules could rejuvenate the cross-channel booze cruise and slash the cost of buying alcohol and tobacco in EU airports.
Britons should be able to get duty free on trips in Europe straight away after Brexit, 40 Tory MPs have told Chancellor Philip Hammond today (pictured is World Duty Free at Gatwick)
Mr Brady told The Sun: ‘There are some simple changes to the law that could be done now to make sure that duty free will come back as soon as we leave the EU.
‘This will benefit British people travelling and will be an important boost to our world leading travel and aviation industry.’
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The letter to the Chancellor – organised by Dover MP Charlie Elphicke – says: ‘The return of duty free would deliver a real boost to Britain.
‘The benefits would be felt across the nation – particularly in neglected coastal communities and regional airports.
A group 40 MPs, which includes 1922 Committee chief Graham Brady, want changes to VAT rules ready to kick in when Brexit happens on March 30, 2019
Bringing back dutyfree would be a real boost to the ferry industry at ports from Dover to Holyhead – as well as regional airports from Aberdeen to the East Midlands.’
He added: ‘Given that duty free applies to travel to the rest of the world it would make no sense for it not to apply to Europe after Brexit.’
Mr Hammond is currently working on his autumn Budget.
Major tax changes are generally announced well in advance – making the statement in November or December an idea time to unveil VAT reforms for March 2019.
Mr Hammond is plotting his Budget after better than expected tax receipts saw the Treasury record its first July surplus since 2002.
The economic data out last week underlined the robustness of the economy in defiance of Brexit scaremongering.
But Mr Hammond must also find extra cash to cover a U-turn on national insurance in the spring and the abandonment of Tory election pledges.
Mr Hammond is currently working on his autumn Budget, a crucial moment in the economic calendar at which he could reveal tax changes
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