Cancer patient fights to scrap VAT on sunscreen
Family handoutA Sussex woman is calling on the government to scrap VAT on sunscreen after being diagnosed with skin cancer at the age of 26.
Jessica Zbinden-Webster from Ferring in West Sussex will deliver a petition of almost 100,000 signatures to Downing Street, calling on the government to scrap the 20% VAT charged on sunscreen products.
Diagnosed in 2018 Zbinden-Webster said she wanted the government to axe the tax to make sunscreen "more accessible to more people".
The government says it will "fight cancer on all fronts".
Describing her treatment Zbinden-Webster said the tumour had spread quite deep underneath the surface of her skin.
"So I had that lopped off and then the hole was so big that it couldn't be closed with stitches.
I was warned, you know, you may look a little different for a while and as you can see from the pictures, I did look a little different for a while."
Determined to raise awareness of the disease she says it affects about 20% of the population, but it is avoidable in nine out of 10 cases.
"In a cost-of-living crisis, the poorest are priced out of skin cancer prevention because of the 20% 'cosmetic' tax on sunscreen products. Sunscreen is not 'cosmetic' - it's critical," she said.
Mark Norman/BBCZbinden-Webster's says the petition is highlighting that skin cancer is now the most common form of cancer in the UK.
A government spokesperson said: "As part of our 10-year plan to reform the health service, and through a national cancer plan, we will fight cancer on all fronts, from prevention, to diagnosis, treatment, and research.
"High-factor sunscreen is on the NHS prescription list for certain conditions and is already provided VAT free when dispensed by a pharmacist to these patients."
