HAMPSHIRE MPs voted against proposals to scrap tax on female sanitary items such as tampons.

Conservatives Royston Smith, Caroline Nokes, Steve Brine, Mims Davies, Desmond Swayne, Julian Lewis, Caroline Dinenage and George Hollingbery all voted against scrapping the so-called 'tampon tax'.

In total, MPs voted against the proposal to do away with the tax by 305 to 287.

Tampons, sanitary towels and other products are currently subject to a five per cent tax under EU rules. 

Campaigners argue that it is ridiculous for the items to be classed as a ''non-essential luxury item'' when women need the sanitary products on a regular basis.

Labour cut the rate from the then standard rate of 17.5 per cent - imposed in the 1970s - to the lower rate of five per cent in the 2000 budget, but was prevented from going any lower by the European rules.

The vote came after an online petition calling on government to back the campaign attracted more than 250,000 signatures.

Campaigners want the sanitary items to be reclassified as essentials which would exempt them from the tax.

Currently, the government considers items such as helicopters, alcoholic jellies and crocodile meat as essentials.