The Labour Party's proposal to impose a 20% VAT on private school fees has sparked significant debate and controversy. Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson defends the tax, stating it will fund improvements in state education as part of her Blair Mk II education revolution. Shadow Paymaster General Jon Ashworth asserts that the tax will raise over a billion pounds for state schools. Critics argue that the policy reflects Labour's hostility towards diversity in education and could lead to the closure of more affordable private schools. Concerns have also been raised about the potential influx of students into state schools, particularly in areas like Wycombe, which could strain resources. The debate highlights the broader ideological divide between Labour's egalitarian approach and the Conservative preference for school choice.
Labour's plan to slap 20% VAT on private school fees has led to fears of closures but critics of the status quo argue that funding is more desperately needed in the state sector. Read more on this story by Sky's @pkelso β¬οΈ https://t.co/SzrzWwG4xZ
"It will mean that a lot of more affordable private schools will go out of business." Political commentator @BenedictSpence discusses Labour's plans to end the VAT exemption on private school fees. Politics latest: https://t.co/xItZsH7tea πΊ Sky 501, Freeview 233 and YouTube https://t.co/7owAns84kM
Private school head warns of hit to kids under Labour tax grab Read more π https://t.co/SzrzWwG4xZ
βLabourβs plan to tax childrenβs education threatens #Wycombeβs parents' school choice. π₯As some Labour candidates have admitted, there is a real risk state schools will see an influx of pupils. π€Schools in #Wycombe and #Bucks are safer with the Conservatives.
Labourβs agenda, with its warmed-up corporatism, sullen egalitarianism and public-sector fetishism, gives little cause for hope and a great deal of cause for angst, https://t.co/LmIj0DAbPL via @opinion
Labourβs policy of removing VAT exemption on private schools draws on two of the party's most disagreeable instincts: hostility to diversity of provision of public goods and belief in levelling down rather than levelling up, https://t.co/LmIj0DAbPL via @opinion
"It is a tough decision to levy VAT on private schools, but we think that will raise well over a billion pounds which we can put into state schools." Shadow paymaster general @JonAshworth speaks to Sky's @MattBarbet. Politics latest: https://t.co/xItZsH7tea πΊ Sky 501 https://t.co/etf89FGzNo
π¬π§ Don't Blame Us For VAT Raid On Private Schools: It's Their Fault β«Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson defends new 20 per cent tax on private school fees to fund her Blair Mk II education revolution β«@DavidPBMaddox #frontpagestoday #digital #UK @Independent π¬π§ https://t.co/Qwsn2vNeZS