Hairdressers hassle MPs for VAT reduction

Date: 24th June 2009

The campaign, called CuttheVAT aims to reduce the VAT on hairdressing services to five per cent.

It has been coordinated by the NHF, habia, the Fellowship for British Hairdressing and the Freelance Hair and Beauty Federation.

A number of hairdressers have written in to the NHF with words of support, displayed on the NHF website.

Simon Matthews from Simonjohn, told the NHF: "Keep up the good work. Everyone in our industry should be backing you."

Susie Brooks of Vision Hair and Beauty said: "We (hairdressers) are crucified by VAT…is there anything we can do to help?"

Meanwhile Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield, Andrew Mitchell, said the Shadow Business team would keep the subject under review.

NHF secretary general, Eileen Lawson, said: "I would implore every salon to write to their local MP using the template we have made available at http://www.CuttheVAT.org and send the replies they get to NHF head office.

"This will be invaluable in our fight to get the best possible deal we can for the nation's hairdressers. Please e-mail me at enquiries@nhf.info."