I couldn't believe this when I heard it on the news today.
So the airport departure shops and concessions have been pocketing some of the VAT money that we are charged when buying your book, suncream or whatever.
They always ask you for your boarding pass, which I assumed was some kind of pointless security exercise, but it's actually to establish if you are flying outside the EU. If you are, the retailer can pocket the VAT element as there is no requirement to pass it on to HMRC.
The Independent newspaper is reporting a grassroots campaign of people refusing to show their boarding pass to retailers, and boycotting those that refuse to serve them.
According to the BBC
Treasury minister David Gauke said VAT relief at airports was intended to reduce prices for travellers.
He warned it was not meant to provide a windfall gain for shops.
Passengers do not legally have to show their boarding pass when buying goods at the airport.
Absolute sharks! Then on the radio there was a spokesman from WH Smiths trying to justify it by saying how can we separate VAT from travellers inside or outside the EU? Well you seemed to be doing it already by checking boarding cards and pocketing the cash!
I suspect there will be a big backlash from this and we shall witness people power in action 
