To think putting vat on private healthcare when many people use it because the NHS won't treat them is monstrously cruel

[DervlaGlass]

I know so many people who have had to pay for cancer diagnostics or new joints because they couldn't obtain care from the NHS. Not rich people - people who have to take out bank loans to fund it.

What is wrong with labour.

I meant VAT of course.

@Pharazon

There are a lot of things that weren't in the manifesto that seem to be coming to pass.

They pledged to 'not raise taxes for working people' but Rachel Reeves how now publicly rescinded that statement saying its on the table

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/sep/29/rachel-reeves-confirms-she-no-longer-stands-by-pledge-not-to-raise-taxes?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Widening the application of VAT to other goods and services is not scare mongering, its a progressive step in applying VAT across the board.

Just because its not in the manifesto means absolutely nothing. They will probably still bring it in because they are looking to raise revenue from all sources, so why should these be off the table? are they not also choices for those that can afford it?

It's hypocritical to just single out private schools as taxable choices but keep other choices off the table.

If she's going to increase VAT should do remove the zero rating for food. That would raise a lot, its really hard to evade, and really gives the message of us all being in it together.

That isn’t a uniquely Labour thing, though, it’s been the case in all governments as far back as I can remember

It's interesting that you mention that. Apparently one of the reasons why the treasury hasn't collected as much into the kitty this year as they expected from the sale of food, is that people are switching to zero rated food in an effort to cut their food budgets.

Speculation is pointless. We all know the budget will be nasty, but worrying about rumours is a waste of energy. It keeps the Mail supplied with clicks, I suppose.

I disagree. People are opting for private because the NHS waiting lists are so long. And not only rich people are using their life savings for operations.

@MyDownstairsLooisHaunted hypocrisy has nothing to do with. You target taxes where they will raise the most money and lose you the fewest votes (or even possibly gain votes such as with the tax on school fees).

'Frothing' Pandora, is there any need to be so rude? Of course people who have been failed by the NHS are concerned about this.

My SEN child would not be in school if we didn’t pay for private. She couldn’t cope. Her private school
bend over backwards to make accommodations for her - she has matrons and a counsellor on tap when she needs it, we don’t get fined if her absence level is high, if she can’t make it into school one day she can join lessons virtually or the teachers send all the work home. This is what she needs and the only way she can access education. State school would just fine us until we ended up home educating. She would then have less of an education, learn no social skills and I would have to give up my job. We barely scrape by paying her school fees - last week I skipped dinner 3 times so I could give what we had left in the fridge to the kids. I couldn’t afford a shop until payday this week. We aren’t rich and many, many parents paying for private education are in the same boat. I would never ever vote for Labour.

Yes, we've used it so that we can continue to work. Saving the NHS money and maintaining our tax contributions too.

I have reworded as it was not my intention to offend people who are genuinely worried.

Oh me and my bupa, elitist twat that I am.

all my DC have EHCPs. One in a private special school. I am well aware how the system works :)

No, the Conservatives were the cause of that with no post Brexit growth plan and 14 years of austerity pummeling GDP per capita and causing a decline in economic growth. Unfortunately, this casts a long shadow and much of it is irreparable.

If Reform ever did get in and carry out what they say they're going to, their policies will bankrupt the country in the first 100 days.....

Their numbers just do not add up

But increasing barriers to employment and jobs taxes don't exactly help. They were meant to be trying to turn it around not push us off the edge.

Hopefully we will survive long enough to get there to find out.

Both are consumer choices based on perceived wealth advantage.

Therefore both have the option to have VAT applied to them otherwise it is ideologically hypocritical choice.

The potential VAT revenue from UK healthcare is projected to be £2.5Bn per annum. The VAT revenue on private schools is £2Bn. Imperically healthcare would raise more revenue.

Your argument is not logical.

The NHS and state schools would run perfectly fine if it wasn't for the proportion of users who are difficult to care for or educate.
There are a significant proportion of NHS patients who are there from their own doing (alcohol, tobacco, drugs, dangerous sports etc) or because of poverty and accommodation related problems which the private sector does not have to deal with.
Also in education the private sector is selective (either academically or by type of child/family).

People already can’t afford to feed themselves. Food being 20% more expensive would completely ruin the lives of a huge portion of the country.

My DH works at a university and gets heavily discounted private healthcare for all of us. Not everyone who uses it is super rich and some organisations do offer it as part of their employment package.

Ok so you're great solution to the NHS is not have sick people. Maybe you also solve the benefits system by not having poor people.

You don't seem to know how it works across the country though. Different councils have different approaches to ECHPs and funding in place.

Other people are sadly living with a very different experience.

You mean that the children are but adults aren't. Children can't vote (yet) so are fair game. Students at university = adults so their education can't be taxed.