VAT on school fees - High Court Challenge.

[EverythingAllatOnceAllTheTime]

Labour’s plan to impose VAT on private school fees in January faces a High Court legal challenge over claims it breaches human rights law.

Lawyers have written to HM Treasury arguing the policy discriminates against special needs children and has threatened court action if it is not dropped.

Showtime…

Except there is no jealousy.

Please can we have some sort of moratorium on the jealousy thing. It's REALLY not a good look and suggests that you don't have anything thoughtful to say about the subject

Whereas spiteful comments like Dodo23’s are fine?

It looks like jealousy, it sounds like jealousy and it smells bitter.

Very true. Jealousy is very unattractive and it dies make people look like they don't have anything thoughtful to say.

@Barbadossunset "Whereas spiteful comments like Dodo23’s are fine?"

No-but if you have an issue with a personal attack either challenge the poster or report the post. The constant accusations of jealousy and envy chucked at anyone who has an issue with private schools is unimaginably tedious and does nothing to contribute to the discussion.

@CurlewKate fair enough.

The "boo hoo" type comments are fairly tedious in themselves.

I've now had 3 friends (including one teacher) who asked / assumed we received some form of rebate / credit. I think it's the language used - "tax breaks" - that make people believe we are obtaining some state derived benefit.

I have to say I have watched most of the recent House of Lords debate now, it is incredibly damning as a whole. In addition, most of what they raise has been discussed extensively on MN too.

Surely all private business’ pay tax? They don’t have to pass this charge on…

Interesting. Good to see some common sense. Sadly Labour will likely blunder on despite the consequences

Why should my taxes subsidise the private business you have engaged to teach your child?

You have this the wrong way round. The op will be paying taxes and not taking the state space.

Only if they make a profit

Sounds like the VAT about to be imposed isn't high enough to stop rich, entitled parents wasting money to stop a democratic decision. Still, a few lawyers on both sides will get a big payday...

If does make me laugh how cross some people are about other people doing well in life. Deary me!

Your taxes are not subsidising my DC’s private school place. I am saving you money by not taking up a state place for them. In fact, this policy may actually end up costing taxpayers because they will have to pay for more pupils to be educated in the state system when their parents can no longer afford private school fees. The whole “tax break” language is nonsense made up by the Labour Party and you have fallen for it!

The thing is there are private schools where parents pay for their choices. Like all the ones we know.

Then there are private sen schools where the state pays for children to go there, at great expense, the parents of the sen children don't pay. This is the scenario the legal challenge is about. Every local council will have to pay the extra 20% for the students they pay fees for to go to these schools. And these fees are usually much higher than other private schools due to the extra support that Sen children need.

So the government is not going to be quids in with the vat. It's going to cost the government £7k a year for each child that moves from private to state school. That's what it costs the government for every state educated child.

The economics of this are not so simple.

🙄another one

I see no jealousy.
People often accuse others of jealousy to shut down actual discussion.

Rich children with SEN are more important than poor children with SEN...

"these idiots."
Unbelievable comment after the antics we have had to endure for 14 long years from a bunch of corrupt, incompetent, ignorant, nasty ideologically fixated pieces of work.
I hope Labour succeeds with this change.
People who want to go on paying for privilege always allude to the small proportion of parents who want private education because their child's SEN are not being met. Makes the majority feel better about their choices perhaps.

@EigerTheTiger @CurlewKate

You may both find this of use in terms of the over-hyped marketing sensation RG. Quite a range between Queen's Belfast and Durham at either end.

HESA publish this for every university, although I took the data in the attached from the ST. Latest HESA numbers should I think be out later this week.

Grammar school figs also attached.

@perfectstorm JL is lovely. The report should be exactly what is needed.

I think it's turned into a pet peeve!

It’s not like SENDIST has anything better to focus their energies on! Personally, I would start with LAs’ behaviour not on the A in EOTAS. It makes me want to roll my eyes.

You should look harder.