How long do you give Andy Burnham as PM?

[AndyBurnham2L]

Build ‘em up.
Knock ‘em down.

Short honeymoon and then the grumbling will start. It will all be over for him by Christmas.

So, who’s next?

No, they weren’t.

One of my children was privately educated after their state school
wasn’t able to do anything about bullying.

We were able to manage back them, I would nor be able to do it now.

Don’t talk to me about things you know nothing about, apart from ideological preaching.

If the VAT at 20% is £7,500 does that mean the original net price was £37,500 ish?
You can pay £45,000 in school fees? £90,000 in total and you want sympathy?

And with what must be a considerable income you don’t have any compassion for children born into poverty - this is a wind up isn’t it? No one could lack this much self awareness?

When I have blamed Cameron for the Brexit referendum, on another thread, posters pipe up that it was in the manifesto.

The VAT on fees was clearly in the Labour manifesto....

Yes, and people pay tax on clothes and makeup without a fuss.

I begrudge paying it on my wine. But I still have to pay it. Nobody wants to pay tax, but if you choose to buy a luxury then you have to pay tax.

And New Zealand taxes it. It really doesn’t matter what other countries do.

That’s impossible to imagine. It means millions of non working parents and 16hr McJob parents turning into high functioning productive well paid workers. This would be like turning our economy into Switzerland. Producing high value, high quality outputs. We have a poundland economy. I just can’t see how this can happen. Not without political economic maturity, a social conscious founded in education and hard work, and a strategy vision business and investors can support. 100% Labour will deliver none of that.

If you can afford to pay for it, then crack on. What is the big deal? That you simply don’t want to pay tax?

VAT is not a luxury tax, which is why the caviar you might enjoy with your wine is VAT free.

No government of any colour has delivered it. Blair was the closest we got and Cameron and Osborne slashed and burnt the lot.

New Zealand pays private schools a per pupil premium to offset some of the cost. That would be like the LA paying my private school the money they would pay if I used state schools. Around £15k a year. That sounds good.

I already pay more than enough tax thanks.

Burnham's good-natured warmth and kindness towards the man is lovely.

It’s not just about politicians. It needs a purposeful civil service, local government. But crucially it needs a population willing to work hard. That just doesn’t exist. Millions milk the benefits system because it’s easy, and far too generous. No the only way is to strip benefits away, and force people towards self sufficiency and free market capitalism.

I understand that his dad has dementia, so he understands. The elderly man is my candidate!

I find your contempt towards fellow human beings rather sad. I hope you are not as unhappy as your posts make you sound 💐

That's a no then. You bought privilege. You'd like to keep it that way.

Removed from the feckless, lazy, poundshop ones.

I know what that is like - I'm very sorry - I managed to get the school to work with me, eventually.

I don't buy this about the government being spiteful about the VAT. It simply doesn't affect that many people. To me, it was an anachronism and it was about time it was dealt with - like the hereditary peers.

Presumably you’d like to close all private schools?

Absolutely I would. I don’t want it to be possible to buy privilege.

I've never thought of it - it is very unlikely that parents of most attending the top public schools would even notice this slight difference.

Thank God it is a protected right under the ECHR then!

My children can experience a broader and deeper learning journey, in a beautiful setting, in small classes, with other like minded hard working pupils and inspiring teachers, fantastic facilities clubs and other social events and international trips, a healthy sporting curriculum with school competitions and matches, and most importantly unbiased by state ideology.

Privilege is a protected right? I don’t think so.

The right to education is protected

State schools offer that.

I love the copy and paste from the school brochure!