Tax Policy Associates analysis indicated that VAT cuts would be a waste of public money and consumers would not benefit, despite vociferous calls for change by a number of lobbyists and campaign groups.

In recent months, the Melanoma Focus Charity focused their sights on the removal of VAT on sunscreen products, pointing towards its expense as posing an ‘increasing risk’ of skin cancer.

Most recently the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders, representing the automotive sector, called for reduced rate VAT on public electric charging points.

Despite many making the assumption that cutting VAT would result in a price cut for consumers, this is not usually the case in practice.