Doubts grow over Labour’s VAT plan for private schools

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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.

It’s so childish. Even more concerning though is her Facebook page removing comments criticising the policy. I can only assume they are removing the comments because they’re unable to defend their position,

Especially as:

• many state schools have astro pitches and pools
• she uses the astropitches of indy schools to play hockey on
• lots of state schools have personalised stationery

This policy “levels” the playing field by bringing the top performing sector down though, rather than bringing the poorly performing one up. The very definition of spite.

Interestingly, the state schools near us with the best facilities (Astros etc), far better facilities than the average private schools, have the worst outcomes for children. State schools also seemingly have advertising budgets to post on social media.

You're confusing socialist with envious. Highlighting improperly taxed luxury in the face of poverty is not env. Even if it didn't raise money, it's still the correct tax structure to apply. The belief to abolishing private school is not driven my envy, it's driven by the belief of free, fair and level access to good education for all and to remove a harmful segregator.

@Didimum . ‘In those who believe in a deliberately levelled playing field in education for all.’

Laughable. Those who believe in a deliberately levelled down playing field in education for all, is what Labour and the millions of envious people want. If they can’t have it nobody can. It is really, rather, pitiful.

@Another76543 It's nonsensical, uneconomical and inefficient to raise 95% of the population to the standards of 5% of the population.

Is it bollocks. It is driven by Phillison, Reeves + Raynor's pathological hatred of indy schools. That's why Phillipson proudly gloats that she's never stepped foot in an indy school (which is a lie, see my point about her using facilities of indy schools). Every post from Phillipson is increasingly petty and constantly divisive.
If they were so convinced of the economics of their policy then they wouldn't need to stir up class hatred and use phrases such as "subsidies" "tax breaks" "posh elites" etc

So you are implying that you do want to level down?

It is now being reported that the "independent" IFS report, the single dource document that Labour have based their whole policy on, was written by a close friend of a Labour minister.....awaiting further confirmation

See comment above in response to 'levelling down'. And have fun laughing with those who champion the deliberate societal segregation of children by privilege and wealth – must be a beautiful crowd.

As said many times before – I can afford private school comfortably, including a VAT raise. I choose not to because that's where my moral compass is. Envy does not enter my thought process.

If it was really about that, they’d be addressing the enormous inequalities in the state sector. Look at the difference between the best and worst state schools across the country. That inequality affects 93% of children and yet not a single word has been said about addressing that inequality. They’re not interested in improving the state sector so that everyone has access to the same level of education. They are obsessed with the 7%, driven by pure spite.

I mean, I’m shocked by that.

Yes..

Ok.. you are amazing.

Even the IFS have said that it raises a “tiny” amount of money and it won’t help fund public services. If it really is a biased report, it doesn’t give the policy any credibility if a biased report can’t even make the sums add up. The whole policy is farcical.

Virtue signalling. You believe you have a stronger moral compass than us lesser mortals who choose indy schools.
Well I personally won't negatively impact my child's life and education for my own morals/ethics.

This from the education secretary who had free tickets to the Era tour. Animal farm working well then

I'm not implying anything, I am overtly saying that levelling 95% of the country up to the standards of the 5% is uneconomic, nonsensical and inefficient. I do tend to think the country ought to be run with that in mind. Do you need me to repeat that a third time?

Regardless, private schools won't be abolished. This is concerning a fair taxation and nothing more.

The more someone feels they have to tell people something, the less likely it is to be true. In my experience…

@Didimum champagne socialism flag waving isn't attractive.

Honestly just do the best for your children, whatever you believe that they need that's within your capability.

Without the state interfering!

Telling someone their choices are based on their personal moral compass is not virtue signalling (but nice MN buzzword, I guess) – it's a descriptor of from where individual choices have arisen.

If you feel judged, those are your feelings to cope with and no one else's. I am simply telling you why I am not envious. And I am not telling you not to choose indy – I am telling you why I don't choose indy and why I agree with fair taxation.

So you do admit that the way to achieve equality is by bringing the 5% down because it’s impractical to bring the 95% up?