Doubts grow over Labour’s VAT plan for private schools

[Blanketyre]

Article in the Observer here:
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2024/oct/05/doubts-grow-over-labours-vat-plan-for-private-schools

I must say they've gone very quiet on it.

Well, lucky you. Most poor people aren't so lucky.

Well having rich parents certainly does whether or not they pay for private education.

What about having private medical insurance? That can seriously affect your life chances if you need an operation to correct your hearing and you have to wait for years on the NHS like my granddaugher did. Should we put VAT on private health insurance too because poor parents can't afford it?

Personally, I would be happy paying an extra 1% tax to improve education. Also, I would be happy to pay an extra 1% tax for the NHS.
I believe that VAT should be paid on private school fees..

@Afterrain

Personally, I would be happy paying an extra 1% tax to improve education. Also, I would be happy to pay an extra 1% tax for the NHS

You can pay more tax should you so wish and you can even specify where you would like to see that money spent - so the extra 2% tax that you would be happy to pay will go to education and the NHS`.

You can make voluntary donations of tax to HMRC through a direct debit

Anyone who wants to pay more tax

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/voluntary-payments-donations-to-government

don’t crash the website now!

@Afterrain are you going to pay an extra 2% tax now that you know it’s possible?

If every state school parent was a net tax contributor- state schools would have the funding they need. Everyone wants someone else to foot bill, rather than being accountable themselves. This country is an embarrassment, I’m praying Labour is about to target low and mid tax payers - this is what is required (or borrowing more, which will increase mortgage rates for the entire country).

I believe that those who use state schools should be net contributor's - otherwise it’s the very people who use the service who are running it into the ground.

Such empty and hollow protests- what they mean is ‘let’s hope people who are already net contributors will foot my families bill’.

I am very happy to pay tax to fund state schools for anyone working hard on a lower income or anyone who can't work because of caring, illness, disability etc but I am not happy to pay that tax to fund education for:

1. Wealthy people using state education who aren't also prepared to pay a bit more.

1. People like my friend who is on UC and refuses to work because she says she is "entitled" to be a SAHM despite neither her or her DH working and for no good reason.

Yep, being born with financial privilege increases your academic chances exponentially. Doesn’t matter what car you drive, your parents having money will bolster that privilege from cradle to grave.

They just need to get on with it ASAP. Of course no-one connected to the private sector was going to be okay with VAT,.

Excellent - the wealthy already make a 5-7k contribution per year. How the government distribute that isn’t really our concern. What contribution will you and your UC friend be making?

The labour government are looking at taxing employees pensions. That won't be popular. Private healthcare, that's something labour are considering within the NHS rather than people using BUPA etc. to raise money.

That’s a bit like saying ‘of course a majority of state school parents aren’t net contributors and refuse to be’. Why would you be unwilling to fix your child’s school? Unbelievable.

I will be paying 45% tax on my income and VAT on school fees.

@goodluckbinbin why wouldn’t you pay more rather than expecting it of others?

Phillipson really let her inner student union sixth form self shine in that post on Saturday

That’s what is concerning. Seeing the motivation from people running this and it’s so base

It’s not economic insight or good for education it really is an emotionally juvenile act

They will. That’s the only place not paying their fair share. I don’t think this policy will happen. Much like the tax relief on pensions which is not not happening - as I said it wouldn’t. It would destroy growth and target the people who have this country on life support. I think people are in for a nasty shock. I for one will laugh my arse off. About time others paid their fair share and it’s all good when it is someone else’s money. No I don’t have children in private school. I am laughing that the Labour government has realised the tax base is too small and the gullible who voted on this dog whistle policy haven’t cottoned on yet.

I think they are about to borrow more and all our mortgages will go up.

And this.

@80smonster I think where you and I differ is that I don't mind paying the tax to fund state school for people like nurses, carers, teachers, shop workers etc but you seem to object to anyone who isn't a net contributor?

If you re read my post you will see I am vehemently against my friend's situation (and it is a difficult stumbling block in a 40 Yr friendship in fact). My DH are both additional rate tax payers so I do pay my way in terms of tax.

Yep as are we. UC needs cancelling in my opinion, those choosing not to work are choosing not to contribute to ailing public services - they are often families who use lots of public services and do not make an adequate contribution. Starmer is basically Tory Lite and will be targeting them for sure. Those who complain about tax payer funded services and do not contribute sufficiently should be ashamed of themselves, they are the problem with this country- not anyone who is self funding.

I agree. Everyone wants better services but they expect the same narrow groups of people to keep paying more and more. If taxes should be increased, they should be across the board including the low and mid payers.