Cheryl Cole criticises 'pasty tax' proposed by British government

Cheryl Cole has criticised the British government's recent attempt to introduce a tax on pies and pasties.

Proposed in March during this year's budget and colloquially dubbed the 'pasty tax', the measure would have seen VAT imposed on all hot baked goods such as pies and Cornish pasties, even if they were not being kept warm on a hot plate or in a heated cabinet.

Cheryl Cole is pictured outside the BBC Radio Two studios in London
Cornish Pasty

Rex Features / Monkey Business Images

Cole told The Sun: "It was ridiculous. I would have been penniless as a teenager - and hungry - if I'd been taxed every time I had a hot pasty.

"I wouldn't have had a penny. It's crazy. Pasties, pizza, McDonald's - we didn't have a clue about nutrition."

Cole also said that she believed the proposal would have disproportionately affected those on low incomes, adding: "It was tasty and it was what we could afford. The whole idea of putting tax on that is about taking money out of the pockets of people who can't afford it."

The newspaper had mounted a campaign against the proposed policy, which was dropped last month.

Cole is currently promoting her new album A Million Lights, which is due out on Monday, June 18.

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