The Irony.. PM's donation was for ‘son to study for GCSEs’

They’re still politicians. Most of the donations you’re so critical of were made when Labour weren’t in government either. Consistency isn’t whataboutery.

People need to send their children to nursery in order to be able to work. Equally any young person who’s bright enough to secure a place can attend university, regardless of parental income.

It does seem like the sensible option might be for it to be taxpayer funded if we are saying that donors shouldn’t provide accommodation.

It is a perfectly reasonable reason to move out regardless of your party.

This comment is in response to posters claiming that taxpayers “subsidise” private education. They don’t. Each privately educated would cost the taxpayer around £8k a year if they were state educated.

Why do some posters assume that criticising anything about Labour means that you liked the Tories or have forgotten about their behaviour?

Many of those criticising Starmer are simply disappointed because they hoped for better. Not in a naïve 'Labour are saints, Starmer is the messiah' way. Just in a 'Well they seem like they'll be at least a bit less venal and corrupt than the last lot' way. And yes, they probably are a bit. People were hoping for more than a bit.

I voted Labour a bit reluctantly, due to their history on gender issues, but I didn't really expect this level of hypocrisy over freebees etc from them. Certainly not this soon, anyway!

It's still a fact that it saves the state money which is why some other countries actually do do a rebate.

But it's a point though those shouting about democracy don't give a shit that Nigel had made it so he can't be removed from his party but hey

whilst saving the taxpayer £8k a year

its this sort of comment that makes me eyeroll…absolutely get your children the best you can if thats what you want to do but lets not act like you are doing everyone else a massive favour

Nobody seems to question how Reform operate. Funny that.

That's because Reform aren't in government!! Dear God, the whataboutery brigade are truly out in force today.

Quite so @TeenagersAngst !

I think Ali’s interests are the important thing to understand here. Starmer has embarrassed himself and Labour can drop the Tory sleaze schtick now, but that is by the by.

Understanding who might be influencing our politics and why is what matters.

Not let me down and yes Boris was a twat. I sit on the left but own Jones and those at novara media type lefties are pissing me off stop this he isn't a fucking God he is much better than what we had and listen to james o Brian as its been stirred up massively

@Daltonbear1 I was referring to Boris, not Keir. Boris’ personal life and political track record meant his behaviour in office shouldn’t have come as a surprise to anyone. However more is expected of Keir and he has dramatically let his supporters down with his poor judgement.

Of course he can. It's ridiculous people are pleading supermarket suits over this

Fair enough however to compare him to the tories you can't at all. This is being stirred up by the media james o Brian says this and he is so accurate on this

I agree, but adding it part way through the year when people will struggle to secure state places if they need to, when children in exam years might find their GCSE options are no longer available, or are working to a different syllabus, seems particularly egregious. And it's the disruption of GCSEs being used to justify accepting the donation that's hypocritical

@Nc789123 ,

I am not against VAT on fees but they could have done it with a 2 year lag, so all children could complete their current schooling phase.

OTOH, a lot of schools (I think the majority) are inviting parents to apply for hardship funds if they genuinely can’t afford to complete the year with the VAT rise.

I don’t see how you can equate this to VAT on private schools policy? I’m trying to but nope, don’t see it.

In Starmers position if I thought my child’s exams would be disturbed by the election campaign (which I would think is fairly likely) I too would want to send them somewhere else so they could focus on them in peace. If Sunak or another Tory I can not stand did the exact same thing I would think it’s totally sensible of them too.

Tony Blair is on record saying that he regretted holding John Major's government to such high standards when he was in opposition as it's almost impossible to be squeaky clean when in government and you are exposed for your hypocrisy.

I think Keir Starmer must be reflecting the same thing.

I think he does have morals actually i am not niave as you say he's far better than the tories so stop bringing this gov down the far left abd the fucking right are pissing me off its like he's had to be so fucking white its unreal. We can have ideology or student politics or be so clean or we can have bloody pragmatism I hate how so many on the left do this

There was a massive ‘shit fuss’ and one action doesn’t justify another. I’m not saying what Boris did was any better, in fact I think it was far worse, but if anyone thought he had morals or was principled when he came into office given his track record they were naive.

There are always going to be kids entering their GCSE year. Why would introducing it in 2025 help? Kids are still potentially going to be leaving their school they dont just settle in straight away. They shouldnt be adding VAT full stop.

It was a long time ago, he may have changed, but his recent actions indicate otherwise. He can be those things and still be kind to juniors, they’re not mutually exclusive.

Sure he can but I am also sure that Boris could have afforded food for a fucking year 24000 it was yet none of this shit fuss then it's an agenda to take labour down

Worried about disrupted GCSEs?
No, I don't believe that will happen. No, your son won't be affected by the journalists outside the house. You knew for years that you would be fighting a General Election so should have made provision. No, your family has absorbed increases in pressure and scrutiny in recent years so can continue to do so.

Not my views, just applying Reeves and Philipson logic to the question.

I think it must have been tough on junior Starmer in his GCSE summer, and it's not outrageous to take action to shield your child from that. What is outrageous is the hypocrisy; that it's okay to disrupt other people's children mid-year, but not your own, so justifying personal gifts from a wealthy donor.

He is earning £8.5k a month after tax, has two kids in state school and recently settled his mortgage. His outgoings will be low, he can afford a couple of nice dresses, suits, and his own glasses.

Sorry I don’t know how that quote got in here but obviously my post is unrelated!