Would Labour voters be upset if joining the EU meant they could no longer tax children’s education?

[Blarneyspoco]

Taxing children’s education is banned as part of EU membership. If the U.K. rejoined the EU, would Labour supporters be upset that they can no longer levy the tax or would it be seen as a necessary compromise.

Because there was no sense to the policy. It was ALL about Labour's hate, spite and envy, rather than what is best for the country. As you rightly say, most other changes over the past few decades have been "phased in" with at least some notice where possible/sensible. The undue obscene haste of the VAT on private schools was ALL about jealously and spite for the benefit of the Lefties.

@AStonedRose

There's north of 10% excess capacity in the State system

Is the capacity in the right places? Or is it like housing, jobs, etc., where some areas have surplus and other have deficit. A school with a few spare places in Sunderland isn't much use to a family living in Bristol!

There are lots of spare school places in London.

Basically yes, it tends to be in the right places. Ther biggest capacity surplus in the state system is in London, where it's running at over 15%, and which also has the biggest concentration of private schools.

This is not to say everything is uniform, and that there will be some pinch points, but that will always be the case anyway. A double figure capacity surplus is not justified because it takes the edge off pinch points. The way you address those is ultimately by making the state system more equal.

Yes, but where I live 40 miles from London the schools are bursting. Additional places are not being created at the same rate as new houses are being built. Spare places in London does not help our local communities. The spare capacity in the state system is a nonsense argument.

There have already been articles published about Scotland stating that the VAT policy is going to cost the Scottish Government money. It’s not something that a few mumsnetters are have made up because they don’t support the policy.

Also, just because I don’t support VAT on schools doesn’t also
mean that I support the two child benefit cap. There is not one political
party where I 100% support their policies. I would be very worried about anyone who does.

Suggesting that it’s OK to harm one group of people because a different group were harmed is vile. Even worse when we’re talking about children.

It's not a nonsense argument, there will always be pinch points around capacity. This happens irrespective of whether there's a small number of additional kids entering who would otherwise have gone private. I recognise there may be circumstances where that may be exacerbated a little, but it's very much the exception not the rule.

It seems the main problem you're describing is house building without the accompanying infrastructure, which I agree is an issue, but largely a separate one. Also, I understand a main driver of that is NIMBYism. Do you think the kind of people who object to state schools being built are the people who use them? Take a wild guess.

But that has nothing to do with PS VAT

Our neighbouring town has a massive housing develpment and they build new schools and a doctors surgery, so it can be done.

Did you actually read what I wrote? Schools are not being built in the area that I live in at the same rate as the new houses. It’s actually not just schools. I have lived in the area for 16 years and no additional facilities have been built in that time despite 1000s of houses being built in multiple new developments.

There is an area ten miles away where the local council has been better at getting facilities incorporated into the development BUT the schools are still at capacity. There is a warning on the website of the newly built secondary school that if you move to the area, the school has no spare places!

As for it being nothing to do with PS VAT, well I was responding to comments that the state sector could easily mop up children leaving the private sector as the state sector has capacity. Are you saying that I shouldn’t comment?! Of course it’s relevant if the state sector doesn’t actually have places where people need them.

I have read what you wrote, that why I said 'it can be done'

The town I live in, has not provided any extra infrastructure either.

No idea why you think I am saying you shouldn't comment, maybe take your own advice and read what I write.

I have not seen one person in my local area argue against state schools being built. In fact, quite the opposite. Yet again, I read another article this morning about the huge population growth in my area with numerous people criticising the lack of facilities. People have been calling out for new schools, doctors and other facilties for years. Begging for them! It’s a massive failure of the district council. Also worth pointing out that it is not controlled by any of the major political
parties. However, the current Government are insisting that more and more houses are built in this area. They see it as a way of resolving housing shortages in London. They don’t care about the local
community as it’s not a typical Labour area.

And it is a nonsense argument. The capacity in state schools doesn’t exactly match where private schools are closing.