The Weekly Briefing - 17 November

Our researcher Heather Lafferty presents a roundup of the week’s fashion and politics headlines— including the news that Lord Ed Vaizey of Didcot (former minister for culture, communications and creative industries) has written an open letter to the chancellor of the exchequer explaining why the decision to scrap VAT-free shopping for foreign visitors would be an unmitigated disaster. "At a time when retailers and manufacturers are struggling, your decision to end tax-free shopping for tourists is a hammer blow to an industry already on its knees”, says Lord Vaizey.