Charging VAT on private schools was such a vote winner for Labour. Pitted the so called “haves” against the “have-nots” and distracted everyone from the rest of Labour’s policies. Many who couldn’t afford to privately educate their own kids were “full of glee” at Labour’s policy. They didn’t care that many of those parents were sending their kids to private schools to address SEN that were not met in state schools.
Now, Labour is cutting disability benefits, but the divisive nature of the VAT policy may have left the “haves” feeling less inclined to speak out against a policy that disproportionately affects the “have-nots.” Well played, Labour—it turns out they’ve been playing chess while the Tories were stuck on chequers.