Keir Starmer went to private school

[Asking4afrend]

AIBU to be shocked that Keir Starmer went to private school? Talk about biting the hand that feeds you. So he enjoyed an excellent education which increased his social mobility and then wants to bring down the system that helped him, even when they gave him a 100% bursary so that his parents didn’t have to pay the fees?

This is from wiki:

Starmer passed the 11-plus examination and gained entry to Reigate Grammar School, which at the time was a voluntary-aidedselective grammar school.[1][12] The school converted into an independent fee-paying school in 1976, while he was a student. The terms of the conversion were such that his parents were not required to pay for his schooling until he turned 16, and when he reached that point, the school, by now a charity, awarded him a bursary that allowed him to complete his education there without any parental contribution.

I only found out about this today when I was googling the school for another reason and looked up the alumni. What a hypocrite. You didn’t hear about this in the election during all his “my father was a toolmaker” speeches.

Oh yes, of course.

Eh? I blamed Boris for his own failings, of which there were many.

The fact that he went to Eton wasn't the problem, and I didn't hold him responsible for his arse of a father.

Being rude and offensive doesn't change reality. A VAT exemption has to be paid for by the taxpayers, and most parents who pay tax have children at state schools.

You'll like Starmer then as he didn't send his children to private school.

You've just confirmed what I said in your last sentence. Nice one 👍

I was fortunate enough to go to grammar school in the 60s. There were 2 big grammar schools within a short bus ride of where I lived. I went to the local school and did the 11 plus along with many children in my class, most of whom lived in council houses. The local primary school encouraged as many as possible to aim for grammar. That was the system in those days. I live in London now and IMO the education system is still very unfair with private schools, selective secondary schools and sink schools and everything in between. Try buying a house in catchment for a good state school in some parts of London! You would need to be seriously rich.

And?

Maybe he wants everyone to get the standard of education he got?But for free.

How so?

I can have an opinion about Stanley Johnson while simultaneously not holding Boris responsible for his father's behaviour.

Please elaborate.

I'd quite like it if my DC16 was in charge of a country with his mates.
He'd likely ban cars and put everyone on ebikes.
Also, foods not containing protein would be banned.

(off to start a thread on this....)

Having used a Time machine since becoming Labour Leader I assume?
Jeez, he was a child. Was he supposed to leave the school his parents sent him to when it changes its status to protect any future political credentials?
I didn't vote Labour and I am not a huge fan BUT I don't see how anyone could blame Starmer for this one

Exactly - Alexander Johnson grew up in an incredibly dysfunctional household, with a violent and abusive father. That merits compassion. His cheating, lying, dishonest, grasping behaviour is his own responsibility.

First post nails it!

He didn’t go to private school! His parents never paid fees. He was hardly going to drop out if he could still go there for free.

Yep his wife went to private school too. That’s why he was accused of dog whistle politics. Were you one of the povvos tricked into voting Labour?

Shame Blair wasn't thinking about that.

So just like the majority of 16 year olds, he chose to stay at the school where he had friends. Where he already knew the teachers. Where he was used to the routines etc.

And you think he should be criticised for this decision 40 years later? Nonsense.

Are you being deliberately obtuse?

Firstly there has never been tax on education in the UK or anywhere else for that matter. Many countries give income tax relief to parents who fund their own child’s education as they see the societal and financial benefit of doing so.

Reducing the number who fund their own education creates a cost to the taxpayer.

People no longer paying fees have their education funded by the state and typically pay less income tax than they would have done.

We are already at the point where there is a net cost to taxpayers. It is no shock that the 6500 teachers they disingenuously claimed would be funded by this has turned into enforced teacher redundancies due to lack of funding.

Turkeys voting for Christmas comes to mind.

If your teenage child told you they wanted to disrupt their education and change schools for ideological reasons, what would you advise?

What secret private school exams would these be???

For whom was the term “Champagne Socialist” coined, does anyone know? I seem to remember it being applied to Harold Wilson, who went to grammar school and was further educated at Oxford. His family’s political origins were definitely in the Labour party.

It wasn’t free. Taxpayers paid the fees.

Sadly I can't, because it's personal knowledge - a close friend's child is in the same class as the child of a prominent cabinet minister. I dont, FWIW, think there's anything wrong with said minister educating their son however they want to.

Exactly. I see nothing wrong with that at all. In any case he was a boy, it was up to his parents. Keir Starmer went to a state grammar that turned private, not uncommon, I've known many who have done the same. You are scraping the barrel if you want to criticise the man for that, he is from a fairly ordinary background, worked hard. Good for him, there's hope for us all.

Another poster, whose dramatic language reaffirms my original point. So het up with Boris and the Tories, you don't see your own double standards. This thread is becoming the predictable echo chamber 🥱

I was being sarcastic because surely A levels are A Levels ?