To finally be looking forward to a GE?

[Cadela]

The past election/PM changes have been horrendous. The visceral disappointment was awful each time.

I can’t wait to actually celebrate this year. I know, I know, Labour are going to set fire to the economy and tax everyone £3mil each and it’ll cost you 4 trillion a month to send you kid to private school, and all women will perish immediately because only Tories know what a woman is

But finally! It’s been a long fucking time coming.

Grow up? Grown up politics is about delivering policies that work for the majority. Not things that just support those who are looking out just for themselves.

an NHS professional, I am not wealthy.

There are lots of highly paid NHS professionals. I know plenty of doctor/NHS management couples with two 6 figure salaries coming in.

Being wealthy and working in the NHS are not mutually exclusive.

@Pin0cchio and as a SEN parent, I can tell you that being able to chose an independent school has been transformative for our family.

The reality of the independent sector is not the tired old “toffs” stereotype some people seem to have. Yes, some parents are extremely wealthy and any rise is fees won’t matter. Most are really not like that.

Which “loophole” is this? Private school fees are not tax deductible. Anyone claiming tax relief on school fees is committing tax evasion.

BIWI

Exactly

For the many

The essence of society is our ability to put aside selfish goals and make choices that benefit the group.

@Pin0cchio awesome. Well I’m the only adult in our family and I do 100% NHS work, no extra private income. And I pay a modest mortgage and two sets of school fees. Plus all the other normal household bills. I’m not wealthy.

But your children’s education is not a charity,

This is probably correct. Lots of private schools don’t have charitable status.

I don’t want to argue so I’m bowing out. My professional life is dedicated to looking after people. In this election I’ll be putting my children first. If that’s the worst thing I’m doing, I’m ok with that.

I'd like to see this end stage Thatcherism finally die and the sociopathic tory party consigned to the history books. I hope the next government introduce voting reform so the tories can stop stitching up the elections by messing around with boundaries etc.

My partner and I are booking the day after off so we can stay up all night 😁

I agree OP. I actually feel hopeful now... change is coming.

I’m more worried about Labour get in. I like Starmer, but to me Labour mps have the same feel as SNP MPs - student political idealists. I’m worried about the Momentum types who will seek power if they can get Starmer out. It’s easy sounding good in opposition, but I’m not convinced they have a plan to solve all the crises.

It will just be ‘meet the new boss - same as the old boss’. They are all on a mission to resurrect feudalism.

Comealongpeggy

I don't doubt it but you show me the low wage family managing to "make sacrifices" to find the money for private school fees for their SEN child. Go on. You won't, because if you bring in £25k a year no sacrifices on this planet will leave you enough to spend £10k after tax on school fees. Those kids need this as much as yours. Do they matter any less than yours?

They don't get to make the choice you make. Their child doesn't get the opportunity yours does.

And we all need to collectively share the responsibility and cost of levelling the playing field.

Not looking forward at all to the shit show that's going to ensue when Labour get in, so glad we have options.

It looks as though Labour could use a little time to iron out some key issues before they get too complacent.

I can't wait. I know Labour aren't perfect , I know they can't solve all of our problems but I'm so sick of the bloody tories. I pay private school fees , we are at the lower end of the income level compared to other parents at the school but I'll pay the price to be shot of this lot.

I am going to limit myself to a small sip for each one, otherwise I might not last the night.

@Pin0cchio actually one of the schools my dc are at offers bursaries up to 110% (so uniform and lunches are also covered). My child’s best friend has a single parent who is a nurse. They have a 75% bursary. Our school also partners with 3 local state schools are shares facilities, workshops and our sixth formers regularly volunteer with local state primaries - listening to children read, providing one to one maths support, helping with school plays etc. We’re not just a load of rich wankers.

I completely understand your worry but the problem is that general cost of life is getting higher and higher under Tories for families who are not very rich (and it seems that you are not) so you will soon struggle to pay for independent school not because of their fees but because you’ll have less money left after other spendings.

@ComeAlongPeggy the Tories have eviserated funding for children with SEN.
But SEN support for other children not so high on your list of priorities? Nice...

@GreenMagazine but I’m dealing with MY children NOW. So I’m doing what I need to do for them now. I won’t sacrifice their happiness and academic potential just so no-one picks on me for who I vote for.

I said I’d bow out. Now I will. For everyone hoping/expecting miracles from a labour government - I think you might be disappointed. The Blair government of 97 was a very different beast (I was up all night rejoicing then).

What are the Labour Party policies on SEN support? I’m
not sure I’ve seen any.

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/labour-has-little-to-say-on-send/

Yeah, @ComeAlongPeggy, and other people’s children deserve that too, under a government that prioritises public services – children who don’t have a sliver of hope at a private school, even if their parents made ‘huge sacrifices’. Wake up and recognise 1) how privileged you are to have that option and 2) that your children aren’t the only ones who matter.

Agreed. Getting the champagne on ice in preparation. It won't be perfect but it will be better than this.