VAT on private schools paved the way for disability cuts

[BellesAndGraces]

Charging VAT on private schools was such a vote winner for Labour. Pitted the so called “haves” against the “have-nots” and distracted everyone from the rest of Labour’s policies. Many who couldn’t afford to privately educate their own kids were “full of glee” at Labour’s policy. They didn’t care that many of those parents were sending their kids to private schools to address SEN that were not met in state schools.

Now, Labour is cutting disability benefits, but the divisive nature of the VAT policy may have left the “haves” feeling less inclined to speak out against a policy that disproportionately affects the “have-nots.” Well played, Labour—it turns out they’ve been playing chess while the Tories were stuck on chequers.

I think that is extremely tenuous. Labour is generally increasing tax and cutting expenditure. You are linking unrelated things.

Personally I don’t think that they paved the way as you put it. But the “haves” against the “haves-not” is how British society goes around. The “haves-not” believe that the “haves” as in people that send their kids to private school are super rich and have no issues and the “haves” think the “haves-not” get too many benefits and are lazy that don’t want to work. Meanwhile the truly rich ones don’t care about VAT, aren’t subject to the same tax rules as employees and carry on as they were.

No, you don't make any sense there

That's a reach!

Many who couldn’t afford to privately educate their own kids were “full of glee” at Labour’s policy.

I think the vast majority didn't/don't particularly care.

Agreed. The two aren't related.

but the divisive nature of the VAT policy may have left the “haves” feeling less inclined to speak out against a policy that disproportionately affects the “have-nots.”

I thought the issues with the VAT & the anger is because some of the "haves" are now "haves-nots"?

Ridiculous post. You need to try a bit harder next time.

I think It's Not All About You, actually.

That's spectacularly tenuous.

Utter tosh!

That's a very implausible link. You need a better argument for it than the one you've given.

Christ is there nothing they won’t shoe-horn a whinge about VAT into?

People who send their children to private school for unmet SEN are priviliged that they are able to do that
The real disgrace is thst there are thousands of kids whose needs are not being met and their parents cant afford private school either.

Indeed. It's a ridiculous inference to draw.

Completely ridiculous and irrelevant.

Edited as quoted Nodddy's ableist post, now thankfully deleted.

My children go to private school. The fact that some people reacted with glee to VAT on school fees doesn’t make me not feel sorry for people who may lose benefits due to yet more bad decisions by this government. I’m not interested in tit for tat, I want a government that does the right things and we haven’t had one of those for a while.

How on earth you make that connection is totally beyond me.

YABU

Christ is there nothing they won’t shoe-horn a whinge about VAT into?

Apparently not

Wasn't there also a lot of glee about all the dc priced out who would now get all the grammar places & buy the expensive houses in catchment to push out the "have-nots" from the good states?

People have supported various cuts and taxes when it’s someone else, Labour are going through groups so they get to nearly everyone in the end.

Welfare cuts this week.

The VAT on school fees/WFA decision/farmer's IHT are in no way comparable to slashing benefits for millions of the most vulnerable and disabled people, hence the uproar from Labour party members, Labour MPs, charities, other political parties.

I doubt the proposals will go through unchanged.

When I saw this post I first thought that this was a bit of a reach.

I don’t totally disagree. We are paying the VAT on our school fees till the end of this year, then my DC is happily moving to a state 6th form.

Cutting benefits is a bit nasty, but after the vitriol I’ve read about sending my DC to a private school, I’ve definitely got no shits left for anyone who doesn’t get off their arse like I did (DH and I are both WC northern) and work. Of course, some really can’t work, but there are too many people relying on the state. I’ve now got 2 jobs and I don’t want to pay for work shy people.