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

Support for removing the VAT exemption on private school fees polled highly amongst the UK population over various polls which you can Google. Even a slight majority of Conservative voters supported it overall. You might be living in a bubble if you don’t know anyone who either supports it or is indifferent to it.

To be fair, that’s a poor argument. I’m sure income tax leaves millions of families short every month. Should we scrap that too on that basis?

YABU.
She is entitled to her own opinion.

And it isn't a tax on children. It's VAT on something that is a luxury. A child doesn't need to attend Private School.

I can see why your friend found it hard work!

You think "leftists" support private education and want the VAT taken off it like the OP does?

I think you misunderstand what "leftist" means.

What utter rubbish!
FGS Google it!

People support taxes that others have to pay regardless of how morally corrupt such taxes may be as most people are inherently selfish.

If I were her I wouldn't have apologised.

It's not a tax on children. It's a business tax

You can reconsider your friendship. But I agree with her. And I would say the same to my friends who choose to pay a fee for their child’s education.

What's "children's education tax"? Surely it's not a deduction made at source for all parents whose kids are in the state system. I am gueesing you mean the VAT on fees for private schools in which case your friend is perfectly entitled to feel that this is jusitfied. FYI not a single one of my contemporaries paid for their child's eduation and they have all gone on to higher education, all obtained good degrees and all have careers. I bought my child up in a deprived inner city area, I was a single mum who was at times so poor I couldn't afford food let alone school fees, in fact my kid was on free school meals for a while, but hey, guess what they have done fine in life.

Lots of private schools are charities and still have the charity tax breaks. Presumably that was too complicated for the government to change.

OP, sounds like you have a narrow group of friends, maybe try to speak to more people from outside your bubble. we all find it hard to feel criticised but healthy friendships should be able to survive a difference of opinion about where you educate your kids.

Sounds like she'd be better off without you.

FFS.
The world would be a dull place if everyone felt the same about everything
Just get on with your life !!!!!!

It absolutely isn’t. As is the case with many who are supportive of the measure, the level of understanding is embarrassing.

I value my friend's difference of opinions, we have cracking debates about them. You don't have to be of the same mind to be friend's imo.

I do get what you’re saying but you do have to question what type of person thinks like that though. It’s a very whacky view point, like I say she’s not your average woe is me Brexiter on benefits type

So you have a difference of opinion. If you can't understand that, then your circle must be limited indeed.

Most people seem to agree with her! You seem incapable of considering someone else's POV, and that they may have a reason for what they say. That's more of an issue in a friendship than disagreeing over tax.

So are you going to tell her you don't want to continue the friendship or be around her any more because her views are unacceptable and you consider her an idiot?

You seem to be under the misapprehension that this is a tax on children’s education - i.e. all children. It’s not. It’s a tax on those parents that can afford private education.
That tax in turn goes to things like funding education for the children of parents that don’t have the means to fund a private education.

In the grand scheme of things, whether or not we should keep a private education system comes rather low down in my concerns. However, surely it’s fair that if you can afford to fund your children to have a ‘better’ education than 90% (or whatever it is) of their generation, then you should have to pay tax on that to benefit those who cannot afford it.

It’s a simple tax on children’s education and vocational training https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-on-education-and-vocational-training-notice-70130

I agree schools and children education are a good thing, I’d say it’s the bedrock of a civilised society.

The type of person that makes up the majority of the UK population.

I actually feel sorry for your friend for feeling she has to fall on her sword to keep in with such a narrow minded group of yes people terrified at the educational provision available to 93% of the population.

I trust that this is the wake up call she needs to Marie Condo her friendships.

Its not a very whacky viewpoint though is it? I dont think "brexiters on benefits" are the people supporting the current Labour government...

Shes been your friend for 15 years apparently, you know what type of person she is. If you genuinely cant cope with your friend having a different political opinion to you then by all means end your friendship but it would probably do you good to expose yourself to people outside your bubble and then perhaps you wouldn't feel so offended when you hear alternative viewpoints.

This sounds as if you’ve brought esoteric internet chat niche group terms and assumptions into a real life setting and are accordingly, having an internet style OTT reaction to someone having a different view in real life. Most people in the real world know that schools paying VAT is not a tax on children, nor does it need to “ruin lives” if the parents are sensible. Education is free in the UK. It isn’t so wicked or controversial to not go along with mad, extreme in group takes on government decisions that most people support. Ending a long standing friendship over such a reasonable view point is crazy. Get on with helping your dc to adjust to a new school and do some voluntary work in the real world. I honestly think it will help you get a grip OP.