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.

Financially its a loss to the government. It interrupts children half way through Alevels and GCSEs, SEND and military children are left out to dry.
No country in the world taxes school education. Some give credits for private education.

We are happy to pay the vat, but want to see UC cancelled - it’s just a lazy bastard benefit. Anyone choosing not to work full time is choosing not to contribute, many pointing the finger at self funders whilst they behave this way. It’s hypocritical and also why the country is skint

It’s hypocrisy in real time. I’m happy to pay the vat, but I want to see higher taxes for everyone, so these public services issues are fixed long term. Ditto the NHS. People lounging about on UC need to get a grip and get applying for new jobs, ones that adequately support their families.

Some of that remains to be seen – in one here has a crystal ball. Yet we do know that many more children are displaced from mainstream school each year due to poverty and unfit schools, so I’m far more concerned about those children in the grand scheme of things.

Regardless, my post was referring to it not being the politics of envy. You’ll find many, many very non envious backers of this policy.

Yes, I linked an article to this yesterday. I wonder if people will still be saying “well it’s only a 20% increase in your outgoings. If you couldn’t afford it, you can’t have it. You should’ve planned for this. Crack on and manage like the rest of us have to. Move to a smaller house or a cheaper area” Just like they do when it comes to VAT on school fees.

Yes is embarrassing how unpolitical and gullible many voters are. Labour will increase taxes for everyone, but it’s mostly been a lack of contribution from lower and middle salaries that will have to pay their way (for a change). The Tories wanted everyone to pay less tax, which clearly isn’t a successful formula.

That’s exactly what will happen. The result of this is poor people will lose their homes, which they cannot adequately afford. They aren’t nailed to the spot, time to sell up. This will be the first Labour government that creates more homelessness.

OR we need legislation to ensure that businesses are paying people a living wage.

We have this already. Labour are not touching zero hours contracts.

Yes, but the national living wage is not adequate in some areas, e.g. London.

I am not poor. I am just not wealthy enough to afford private school with or without VAT.
And that's quite the statement you're spaffing with zero evidence.
According to you, "most poor people" have to send their child to a crap state school?

this is not how tax works... we live in a civilised society.

Start denying good education to swathes of people and crime will go up (to say the very least).

Sure, which do you suppose will happen first? I’m willing to hazard a guess… They aren’t about to chase large businesses away. Otherwise we will face recession. Agree living wages need to rise (so we can all pay our fair share of tax).

I didn’t suggest denying an education to those who can’t pay, but maybe rearing children that others in society have to cover the cost of (or further denigrating public services) should be carefully considered. Ultimately many want to not make their fair share of contributions and continue to take from underfunded services. The solution is for everyone to pay more tax. Sorry if that makes you feel uncomfortable.

I didn’t suggest denying an education to those who can’t pay, but maybe rearing children that others in society have to cover the cost of (or further denigrating public services) should be carefully considered. Ultimately many want to not make their fair share of contributions and continue to take from underfunded services. The solution is for everyone to pay more tax. Sorry if that makes you feel uncomfortable.

For those who are convinced that only private school parents care about the VAT on school fees, Twitter (or X, whatever it’s called now) has had 4.6m views on Phillipson’s ridiculous post on Saturday. Given that there are only 600k children in private school, and a lot of those parents aren’t on Twitter, it shows there is wider interest on this.

People will have to cut their cloth to fit their budget. An accusation that has been levelled at private school parents on here repeatedly.

Are you a net contributor for each member of your household - is the question you should ask yourself?

you were complaining about people on universal credit being a drain on the system... your solution is that that get off their backside and earn more money...
how do they do that?

1. what jobs should they be aiming for
2. how will they get these jobs?
3. are the low-paid jobs that they are leaving necessary for society
4. if so, who will do the jobs they are leaving?

How other people fund their lifestyle is entirely down to them. Expecting UC handouts isn’t a way to successfully motivate the unambitious. All the while expecting those who are able to fund their lifestyle to fund yours.

my husband and I earn more than average. I have not sat down and worked out whether or not I am net contributor (and I really don't see why my finances are any of your business).
Since you ask, we earn more than average, pay a decent amount of tax and NI have children in school but rarely use the NHS as we are fortunate enough to be healthy.

That’s 50k of taxed salary per household member, should be a nice quick calculation. Not wanting to engage with how much tax is required to support society is exactly how we ended up in this mess.

People claiming UC do so to top up poorly paid jobs. Reasons they do those jobs are myriad.

I am not a UC claimant BTW, I think I probably pay more into the system than I get out in fact.

Your comments about people's lifestyles make you sound very angry and bitter, and I feel sorry for you.

Have a good day.

Have a lovely day you absolutely charming person :)