To think taxing private schools...

[maddening]

I have no skin in the game, my dc is at a secondary state school. I have no strong views on private schools - although I think state should offer the same level for all dc.

However, looking at the maths I am not convinced the cost and benefits of this proposal works out - apparently vat will bring in 1.3 billion - however if the 554,000 children in private schools had to be schooled in state schools that would cost 4 billion - aibu to think this is not the win that many are led to believe? It is more divisive imo and driven by ideology.

If the private school parents are saving the state 4 billion a year then I don't have an issue with the vat personally.

I think that there could be more requirements placed on private schools in order to retain the vat free status, such as sharing facilities with local state schools and more subsidised places perhaps, or means tested vat relief for parents?

@twistyizzy oh in that case I can't see them going ahead with the VAT on fees either then.

Thing is though pal it's a bit Marie Antoinette, banging on about how terrible labour is for taking away your tax break when other folks' kids are eating food bank pot noodles and living in B&bs because of tory policies. I mean I know a problem is a problem but ... have a bit of perspective.

But you aren't debating, you have just posted to moan about a thread you have no interest in. That's fine, its a free country but personally if I don't care about a thread I don't post on it to say I'm not interested

Not when the thread is specifically about private schools. If the thread was about food banks then yes it would be out of context but on a thread about private schools it is fine to talk about private schools

Yeah of course talk as you wish.

It's not a good look is all.

It's not a good look to talk about private schools on a thread about private schools?

Oookaaaay

But VAT isn't a luxury tax. Hence why ice cream is VATable but frozen yoghurt isn't VATable
Education shouldn't be taxed, indeed it is illegal to tax it in the EU.
Greece tried, failed and had to repeal it.

I agree @Motheroffourdragons . I think fees should be taxed too. Especially given that we tax most other private sector provider education fees - specialist post graduate studies, for example, including vocational courses, English Language schools etc. No tax breaks there. Why should there be? You operate out of the system, you take the hit.

You understand nothing of how the NHS works if you think this. The waiting lists have nothing to do with whether NHS doctors can work in the private sector or not. It is unattractive enough to be a junior doctor at the moment without adding any more constraints. That is if you want there to be any junior doctors left. So many are leaving because they are just sick of how they are treated.

As my mum would have said, two wrongs don’t make a right. The Labour Party should be focusing their attention on improving the issues that you mention rather than damaging more children and stirring up hatred. There have been some vile comments on these threads directed against private school parents. The Labour party knew what they were doing when they came up with this policy. They knew it was a vote winner for people who want to get one over on the “rich”. Except that it won’t impact the rich.

Well the labour party is very much focused on child poverty and impecunious housing and jobs. But they also want to do a bit of tidying up as well. Good on them. This is long overdue.

It's the other way round. Cakes are VAT exempt because they are traditionally wholesome and home made. Biscuits are not.

Actually cakes are zero rated. Biscuits are also zero rated unless they are covered in chocolate. The Jaffacake case revolved around whether they are cakes (and therefore zero rated) or chocolate biscuits (and therefore VATable).

Damaging children is tidying up?! I don’t think so.

Of course there are not going to be different doctors in each setting! If you insisted on that, given that they are much better paid for private, you would have even less doctors in the NHS. You are talking consultants in any case who will have been in the NHS for years before switch over to private. FFS educate yourself.

It's a public message board. You put things on here, there's always the risk us oiks will come along and disagree with you. Maybe you could run your own private message board where everyone wants tax breaks for Eton kiddies.

It'd be great if there were less private and independant schools, and more choice of type of school, ie forest schools and Steiner schools, paid for by the state.

Steiner schools can suck my cock. Nasty cultish nonsense. They should definitely pay tax. They should pay fines!

I don’t mind people disagreeing but there have been many insults against private school parents and their DC and we are supposed just to take that. And, once again, by referring to Eton you show your complete lack of understanding of the private sector and the children that will be impacted by this policy. It won’t be Eton pupils. Is it any wonder that we are so frustrated when people believe that a very small group of schools represent the independent school system as a whole.

Why are you flouncing off? Because you misunderstood the Jaffacake case?!! Strange…