SWINDON and Wiltshire MPs have voted against plans to removal of VAT on tampons and sanitary products for women.

Under EU law, it is impossible to remove the tax on female sanitary products without all 28 member states of the European Union agreeing.

MPs voted 305 to 287 to turn down a Labour amendment on Monday which would have forced Chancellor George Osborne to outline how he was going to negotiate with the EU to have this tax removed within three months.

The bill would also have forced the Government to give an update on their progress by April 1 next year.

Although the amendment was defeated, Treasury minister David Gauke promised to raise the issue with the European Commission.

Campaigners argued it is ridiculous for the items to be classed as a "non-essential luxury item", especially when books and newspapers, motorcycle helmets and other products are zero-rated.

A Treasury spokesman said: "The UK has set the VAT on sanitary products at the minimum rate permissible under EU rules."

Any change would require a Commission proposal and the unanimous agreement of all 28 member states.

The current rate of tax paid on sanitary products is five per cent.

An online petition, Stop Taxing Periods. Period. was signed by more than 250,000 people, triggering the debate.

It says: "Periods are no luxury. You can ‘opt-in’ to extravagance. You cannot choose to menstruate. Despite this, a whole heap of disadvantages have been created for those who do."

The full list of MPs who voted against the amendment:

Robert Buckland, South Swindon

Justin Tomlinson, North Swindon

Michelle Donelan, Chippenham

Claire Perry, Devizes

James Gray, North Wiltshire

Andrew Murrison, South West Wiltshire

John Glen, Salisbury