Play date with mum who agrees with education tax

[BonnuitMy]

Please let me know if I’m overreacting. I recently overheard a new mum at school talking about a local private school closing down due to the education tax and how this is somehow a good thing. She’s now invited my DD for a play date, would you accept?

My business pays tax and I sell food. We call it VAT, not “food tax” because we aren’t dramatic weirdos. Food is literally the stuff of life and more necessary than private education. I’m happy that other businesses also have to contribute. In fact, I wish more did (Greggs, I’m looking at you). Is my biggest bill and has a real impact on my ability to run my business in terms of the number of employees I can afford and what I can invest. We lose 1000s of hpspitality businesses a year to insolvency and a third of hospitality business are currently running at a loss, in no small part due to 20% off the top (we can claim almost nothing back as most purchases are non rateable and things like insurance are charged “insurance tax” rather than VAT so can’t be claimed back).

If we should have to pay tax at all on purchases and why some things (skips, pork scratchings, Greggs sausage roll, tunnocks tea cake, shoes for an adult with size 4 feet) are not taxed and other things (monster munch, private schooling, shoes for a 10 year old with size 6 feet) are taxed is something that really needs overhauling, alongside the rate, which is frankly obscene. If it was 10% or 12.5% or even 15% businesses facing insolvency may have survived.

OP i think you are better off starting your own cult. That way you can raise your DC in a bubble where you only associate with people who agree with ALL your views, opinions, beliefs etc.

(OP the red flag in this scenario is YOU)

It isn't a "massive" red flag, it's an indicator of difference in a specific area of education. A massive red flag for a playdate would be she's been in prison for child porn, she keeps an XL bully in the living room, there is a drug dealer in the house... that sort of stuff.

I don’t believe in taxing education but as Labour do believe in this policy, I don’t see why they don’t add VAT to uni fees as well.

I do realise that it is quite a popular policy so you may be limiting your child’s friendship pool a bit. What other views are on the hit list?

Less than half of private schools are businesses. Don’t fib.

I would enthusiastically accept.
As I agree with her.
I would like to see private schools abolished.
I'd be thrilled to see it all beginning.

This is actually hilarious! Pearl clutching at its finest! It’s putting me in mind of the Catherine Tate sketch of the posh mum terrified of cheery northerners or anyone possibly working class. Are you fond of cinnamon yoghurt too?!

I agree, it’s a shame that your DD might be prevented from playing with her friend because you have a very closed mind about the perfectly acceptable opinions of that child’s mother. You come across as a bit batshit here! ‘Massive red flag’?

How ridiculous. This is a play date not an episode of Question Time! It is possible to be friends or acquaintances with someone who doesn’t share your views on everything. If you’re that bothered,
why not accept the play date and use it as
an opportunity to discuss her stance in more depth? You might even change her mind. Or even have your mind changed?

The other mum is incredibly lucky that you are refusing the playdate. At least her child won't have to spend time in the company of a child who has such a judgmental parent.

The vast majority of people on this country believe in vat on private school fees

I think you mean ‘educating’. I also think you mean ‘the government’, not the local authority.

Dds best friend is the daughter of an American billionaire - I dread to think what her mums political views are 😀.

Soon:

Lovely mother of a wonderful child who is friends with mine turned down a play date because we have different political/religious/cultural views.

Why are people engaging in this obvious troll post?

The independent school near me is listed on Companies House. It made a profit of over £7 million pounds last year. Hell yes they should be paying VAT.

The only time I wouldn't agree to a play date due to a parents views would be for outright hate speech.
Homophobia, racism, misogyny etc

A slight difference in political opinion? No of course not.
I have my own political opinion and I might not choose to be close friends with someone with a differing one but I'd always be polite and no way would I stop my kids being friends with theirs. That's so ridiculous!

There are times when people try to palm off hate speech under the gusie of a political opinion though granted.
I probably wouldn't let my kids go and play at the house of someone who was a vehement Reform UK supporter tbh.
I mean if I didn't know then I didn't know.. if they keep it to themselves or between adults in discussion then fine.
But if I hear them telling all and sundry "immigrants are ruining this country" or something similar, then no id not trust my child wouldn't be subjected to that if they went round to play at their house, so they wouldn't be going.

It's the local authority who pay.

You would still have international private schools and private tutors. Some countries offer residency visas for people who have paid for their education in that country. They are happy to take the international schools business away from us.

Yes, but it would still be an improvement. Something is better than nothing.

So would you prevent your child playing with a child who's parents didn't agree with this view?

Yes dear 😂

Jealous of what exactly? The fact that most children who attend fee paying schools and who’s parents pay the full fees are benefitting from an exclusionary education system whereby the rest of the plebs end up with possibly an ‘inferior’ education?

Why wouldn't you?

You cant control someone else's thoughts and opinions, everyone is entitled to their own..

Imagine.. Extended play date to school mum who took to a public forum over my opinion on education tax.. should I cancel?

This has got nothing to do with your dds friendship or happiness. Pure spitefulness from you over perceived spitefulness from your dds friends mum. If that’s how you want to model behaviour to your child go right ahead. I’m not sure your child will thank you for it though!