AIBU to reconsider a long friendship over support for education tax?

[CoconutRumcake]

A close friend of over 15 years last night unashamedly said she supported the children’s education tax. To put this in context, she is godmother to my ds and has seen first hand what damage this has done to children and families as well as her own sister losing her job when the school closed. She had maybe drank too much and has apologised over text this morning, but I really can’t shake the feeling that I don’t want to be around her.
AIBU -try and move past it
YANBU -it’s run it’s time

This is an insulting statement and shows your true colours

OMG OP - I think you need to go back to school and learn a bit more about business. Private schools are simply businesses that happen to provide the service of education. They make money. They have to, or how else do they pay their staff, utilities etc? Any other business that does this has to pay VAT. For some years, private schools were exempt as they were considered a charity. Then the government quite rightly decided they weren't a charity. They make money. They pay their staff good salaries. They invest that profit into nice facilities. They are running a business and being rightly taxed on it. The fact their business happens to be providing education doesn't make it a tax on education. It's a tax on a private business.

I genuinely don't know anyone who doesn't have the same opinion as your friend. It doesn't seem like a "wacky" view to me at all.

I did have one colleague a few years ago who was whining about it, she told me that because she had three kids, hers was a 60% increase. If that's the sort of intelligence a private education buys, I'm happy with my state education thanks.

@CoconutRumcake did you post a similar question couple of months ago, pondering whether you should let your child play with a kid who’s mom was in favour of „education tax” as you ridiculously call it???? Was it you?

Nope.
The uk does not tax "children 's education". You can get state education for free.
A tax VAT was added imposed on private education. Which is a choice.

Ah she’s overdone it on the last few posts. This is performance.

It’s not a children’s educational tax. It’s a fairly applied VAT for private companies.

You sound very uptight

That’s not true. Loads of foods have VAT added, even mineral water attracts VAT.

Milkshakes, yoghurt, fruit juice all have VAT added. Digestive biscuits, flapjacks and milkshakes have no VAT added.

I really think she ought to drop you for not allowing her to have her own opinion. Unless her opinion is something awful like pdf. Why cant she disagree? People like you want to be surrounded by yes men.

It’s classed as raw fish and therefore comes out as a bit of an anomaly. The govt can’t separately legislate for every item of food, there’s not time in the day.

It’s like the M&S strawberries and cream sandwich and whether it was a cake or a sandwich.

I'm not against the 20% tax on private education.. there... I'm thick and stupid too! please don't be friends with me :-)

Incorrect. The vast majority don’t make a profit. It would be unlawful for them to do so.

Presumably the school closed because a lot of pupils left. Just use the free state schools and save a lot of money for their uni fees. Or are you so dismissive of the state education system that you don't consider that education? If you still want to go private you may just have to travel further or go for a boarding school the choice is yours.

Are you familiar with how averages work? 50% of schools are charging less than the average and some very much less.
I'm about done with this thread now. Most people will only believe what fits their narrative in any case. But I can assure you that everything I have said is true.

Do you mean "net contributor"? That's the term I've heard.

I don't know how you work it out but I probably am, I don't have kids and I work, previously full time higher rate tax payer for many years, now part time. Never on benefits. Run my own business which pays corporation tax and VAT (not VAT registered so can't reclaim it). I probably pay more categories of tax than most people.

Of course. They’ve tried to work out categories but of course there will always be anomalies.

People always roll out the “caviar” example as some kind of gotcha when it isn’t - it’s one of those tiring things people think is clever.

Must be

I work in a private school. I agree with OP that the tax was very badly implemented. Not that the VAT came in at all- but the way it was done, so suddenly. It affected a lot of people badly

It has resulted in several private schools having to close down. Many people I know who work in private schools- have lost their jobs. It has also caused upset to a huge number of students - many whom are international. When the schools close - they have to find somewhere else to go. It takes international students a long time to get a visa, and they have to have a school to go to - to get one

You sound vile. Don't dress it up as if you care about all children's education. You're only pissed because you cant afford to send yours now.
Your poor friend, if I was her id be the one withdrawing from the friendship not you.
Just for info. I am a net tax payer significantly more than you. If that is your criteria for being allowed to have an opinion.

I'm not sure if the OP is genuine and is just posting rage bait now for giggles.

Why don't they use the state sector?

Yes but the OP didn't day that, shes wittering on about taxing all education because she thinks that makes her sounds better

OP, but why would you loose an old friend over a political/tax opinion? Most of us only have a handful friends in life, and we might change our views over politics/tax systems down the line, but you won't be able to have new old friends.

But yes, it must have been insensitive of your friend to bring up her opinion on private schools vat when she knew it has so badly affected your family. She probably should have just kept her view to herself as it is a sore topic for you.

Having said that, perhaps your friendship outlived itself? Could there be other things that have affected how you now see each other?

I think private education is icky but of course also think people have the right to choose it just like they have the right to do all sorts of things I wouldn’t. But I never could understand why this wouldn’t be taxable. None of the private schools in my city closed, though I wouldn’t miss them if they did. There’s a bulge now, but birth rates are dropping so in a few years there will be plenty of spaces at most schools.

Actually OP, to answer your question. Yes. I think you should drop her and never speak again and re allocate your godparent title and throw her out of the toxic WhatsApp. You’ll be helping her.