Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has pledged to restore VAT-free shopping for international visitors if her party returns to power, aiming to boost Britain's tourism and economy. This policy, which was scrapped in 2021, represents a clear contrast to Labour's approach of introducing new taxes, and marks a victory for the Daily Mail's campaign to revive the scheme.

Research from the Centre for Economics and Business Research suggests the scheme could attract 2.35 million additional visitors and generate £4.1 billion in extra spending annually. Over 500 UK business leaders, including figures from Giorgio Armani, Fortnum & Mason, and major hotel chains, support the policy. The Conservatives plan to initially restore VAT refunds for non-EU visitors, with potential extension to EU visitors by the end of the next Parliament, mirroring tax-free shopping systems already standard across most European destinations and some US states.