Overview
- Nic Madge has asked Chancellor Rachel Reeves to add a tax of about £20 to each pointed kitchen knife over three inches made in or imported into the UK.
- He proposes collecting the levy from manufacturers and importers to allow HMRC and customs to enforce payment and seize noncompliant shipments.
- Research cited from De Montfort University found round-edged knives failed to penetrate cotton and denim in repeated tests, whereas pointed blades did.
- Survivors and groups including the Safer Knives Group and Let's Be Blunt back a shift to round-ended knives, while noting some professionals still require pointed tools.
- Issued two days before the Labour Budget, the appeal claims limited business impact and potential benefits for UK rounded-knife makers, with no government commitment reported.