“DICKENSIAN”, “disgraceful” and “patriarchal”.

These are just some of the words a Machynlleth writer has used to describe Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies this week, after he and 10 other male Welsh Tory MPs voted against abolishing the so-called tampon tax. But Mr Davies defended his no vote, saying that the change could only be made in the European Parliament.

A motion was brought by Labour in the House of Commons last Wednesday to abolish the controversial five per cent rate of tax women have to pay on sanitary products, which are officially classed as “non-essential” or “luxury”.

The motion was defeated by 305 to 287, sparking fury among some of Mr Davies’ constituents when it was revealed that he, along with the Secretary of State for Wales, Stephen Crabb, were among the 11 who voted against the motion.

Machynlleth activist and writer, Angharad Penrhyn Jones told the Cambrian News this week she was ”flummoxed” by the way her political representative voted.

“I found it really disappointing,” said Ms Jones. “I am flummoxed. It is not a choice to menstruate and use these products – if men’s razors aren’t taxed, why on earth should women’s sanitary products be?

“It is kind of Dickensian really, it is an embarrassment and a disgrace.

“I hope that women and men write to Glyn Davies to voice their intense dissatisfaction with him.”

Ms Jones added: “This five per cent tax clearly isn’t a big financial issue for the well off, but we need to consider the women who are struggling to put food on the table, counting their pennies and using foodbanks.

“This is just one example of the way in which the Tory Government is showing total disregard for the poor.

“Women are being hit harder than men and treated with contempt.”

Mr Davies said he did not vote to abolish the tax because EU rules would not allow it.

He said: “Along with all other MPs I would support the ending of VAT on tampons, if it were possible.

“Unfortunately it is not within the ability of any UK Government to deliver this change.

“The vote in the House of Commons was no more than ‘gesture politics’, designed to create div­ision where there is none.

“The UK Parliament does not have the power to reduce VAT on anything below five per cent and has not had the power to do so since the early 1970s, when we joined the EEC, which later bec­ame the EU.

“Those calling for this change in Parliament know this perfectly well.

“A five per cent VAT tax on tampons is something all MPs oppose, and would like to remove.

“The government has said it will raise this issue with EU colleagues, and the EU may consider a change next year.”