Products could no longer be priced differently based on whether they are targeted at men or woman under new plans aimed at ending the so-called “pink tax”.
A new bill which would ban differentiated pricing on products such as razors and deodorants will be introduced at Westminster by Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine.
Campaigners who say products can be almost identical and yet those targeted towards women are more expensive have for years called on the government to take action.
In 2016, health retailer Boots announced that it would lower the price of some of its razors for women to bring them in line with those for men.
Ms Jardine's Gender-based Pricing (Prohibition) Bill will have its first reading today. The MP for Edinburgh West said that women were being hit by a "double whammy", following the impact of the gender pay gap.
She said: "It is entirely unacceptable that in 2019 women and girls are still paying more than men for basic products, such as razors and deodorant.
"Whilst women are often still being paid less too, women really are being hit by a double whammy.
"Products marketed at women are on average considerably more expensive than those marketed at men.
"Often the only difference is the colour, yet this unfair price gap will have a significant financial impact on a woman over the course of her life.
"Liberal Democrats demand better. It's time to get rid of this price gap. My Bill would remove this outdated and sexist tax on women once and for all."
