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.

You did. Having participated in that thread and now seen the playdate one, I am reminded of what I used to say to my DD when they were 8-ish: 'You can ask me the same question 200 times and the answer will be 'no'. Boring for you. Boring for me. Or you can find something more interesting to do.'

Do you not see it is because pretty much no one agrees with you?

I am guessing the OP follows a philosophy centred around the fact that just because it's a majority view, doesn't make it right. As if there is some universal law at work.

How is this still an issue?

Many of my colleagues send their children to private school and it has never been a source of conversation. And we’re teachers! It only seems to be a big deal on MN.

And even then, only one MNetter

Most schools private schools are not, and have never been, charities. The ones that are, still have charitable status. Like most places in the world, the EU doesn't allow tax on education. It has nothing to do with charitable status.

Education can't be taxed, but commercially run extracurriculars can, be it clubs or trips.
If it matters so much, maybe you'd find a way to legally separate the price of education from price of the extras and tax the second part.

The really sad thing is that play date thread is from May, so the OP’s bitterness has been going on for months and is into another school year.

Surely it would be better for her children if she just made the best of the situation - moving the kids from school to school wouldn’t be helpful anyway.

The process of rejoining the EU would be long and arduous.

Political risk aside.

There was a flood of threads back in 2024 about how the court, then the appeal court, then the supreme court, then the European court of justice were all going to find the policy illegal.

I couldn't care less whether there's VAT on private education or not, the same way I don't care what duty is put on cigarettes. Neither affects my life. I don't know which parties are for it and which are against it. I care much more about Brexit and being in the EU.

OP, if we rejoin EU, then it bans VAT on education, so Labour will have to scrap it.

Having my popcorn ready and want to see Bridget's face

You may have to wait a while. There's no reason why a rejoining UK couldn't wangle a few years grace to amend it's VAT regime. A lot would depend on what the government of the day considered immediately disposable in negotiation.

Ether way it’ll probably be scrapped, like Starmer’s other policies eg digital ID and ending jury trials have been.

We could probably cut quite a lot of taxes by rejoining the EU, so a big fat "who cares" from me.

Literally that entire post is incorrect. Every single “fact” in it is wrong.

That being said, it's also equally possible that in anticipation of rejoining, the policy get scrapped too.

Christ it's this loon again 🙄

Same here.

Gotta admit - it’s bloody funny…

I agreed with the policy but if dropping it is necessary to rejoin the EU so be it. However they might not want us back and I wouldn't blame them.

I'm just wondering if this take on having to pay for the luxury of private education will run to 1000 posts as well.

We should rejoin asap. And the euro too, then there will have to be control of the deficit and debt and we can have a long term democracy that focuses on work not welfare. The Labour Party have realised that the EU is the answer to all their issues, including the failed VAT policy on private school. It is their get out for growth and the ballooning dependent population.

EU law bans any vat on private education because they correctly see it as a public good a a parent's personal choice..Greece tried it and had to remove it.

As with any club, who runs it matters. And whether those charged with applying the rules do so equitably across every nation.

Same here too.

If we're at some point considering rejoining the EU it should be done on a cost vs benefits analysis of whatever deal we are likely to be able to negotiate. Taxing private schooling is so far down the list of concerns that no one cares.

VAT is not levied only on luxury items. It is levied on everything except items specifically mentioned in the law.

I think the EU problem was that while members we could not add or remove to those items. Possibly when we rejoin that will be part of the negotiations.