Twickenham MP Vincent Cable and other backbenchers have forced the government to back down from imposing VAT on kiss-of-life dolls used by St John Ambulance volunteers.

Treasury minister Dawn Primarolo has now agreed to VAT relief which will save the charity £75,000 a year.

Mr Cable said he took up the cause after learning life-saving techniques a few years ago.

He said: "Seeing that with just a little expert training anyone can learn to save a life and since I sit on the Commons committee which deals with tax changes I thought this issue could be fought."

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