What an odd country this is: no European politician would bother to make such a boast. There would be nil interest in the social background of politicians.
Human rights expert, Lord Pannick, is now backing legal advice that suggests making private schools subject to VAT was likely to breach ECHR law.
He opined, “It would be strongly arguable that for a new government to impose VAT on independent schools would breach the right to education"
This vindictive and envy-driven grab is devoid of economic sense. The government pays £100k to put a child through the state system.
The government saves £100k for every child educated privately. Parents who cannot afford the 20% uplift will now be moving their children to the already overcrowded state system!
British private schools save the British taxpayer tens of millions of pounds.
There is another less visible tangible. The British private sector educates a huge number of foreign children.
We have little global influence but the private sector gives us substantial soft power.
If Labour insists on this idiocy restrict it to foreign-paying students though it should remember the billions bought into the UK as invisible earnings.
The Dame imagines this vindictive idea comes from the feeble mind of our deputy prime minister in waiting...and yes, the Dame doesn't like 'this one'.
As far as I am concerned private school produce ' I am better than you'. types. Our state schools are pretty rubbish generally so why should someone with a bit of dough have the advantage of not having to go 'state side'
ReplyDeletei don't care about the tax it might raise. Just don't like snobs
ReplyDeleteIt's not discrimination if they remove vat exemption from all schools. Then increase state school budgets by 20%. No net difference, same policy outcome.
DeleteYeah, the 20% will go back in? It should be used to pay security guards to protect teachers desperately trying to teach. British state schools like the NHS are unfit for purpose
DeleteI can see a number of fee paying independent schools applying to become Academies, in the fullness of time, in the state system. This situation might arise if a school becomes financially unviable as a result of dwindling numbers following the imposition of VAT on fees. The parents who have been paying fees hitherto to have their children privately educated are not going to have their kids relegated to a shit school in a Labour run local authority.These middle class parents will have the motivation and determination to make the best out of an unfavourable situation.
ReplyDeleteGood comment
DeleteI know what you mean about the motivation of middle class parents. Emma Dent Coad is one such woman. She could afford to send all of her children to one of the Country's top Public Schools so she never did anything useful in education locally for the plebs.
DeleteThe Roman Catholic Church runs primary and secondary schools in K&C. The Oratory Primary, the London Oratory and Cardinal Vaughan come to mind. I know the London Oratory. The headmaster does not mess around. It's a case of parents and pupils falling into line and if you don't like it.....etc. This is why there is such massive demand for places. So, if the RC's can do it why is the state so incapable. The state education sector is like the NHS...rubbish management.
ReplyDeleteWhat is Miss Dent Coad's position seeing as she opted out of the state system; not good enough for an aristo?
ReplyDeleteNo Labour supporters spring to the defence of the plan
ReplyDeleteLord Pannick [...] backed legal advice warning that making private schools subject to VAT was likely to breach ECHR law.
ReplyDeleteUmm, Lord Pannick. You know Finland outright banned fee charging private schools right? How is this not an Onion article?
Finland? Where's that, mate...right?
DeleteMate (01:59) to fully answer your question: Finland is part of Scandinavia, a geographical region in northern Europe, and shares land borders with Norway, Sweden, and Russia. The Baltic Sea borders the country to the south and southwest.
DeleteF*****g typical...I tangle with one of those 'geography lecturers' from All Hell Sink Comp'...cheers Mate
DeleteYou couldn't make it up! The Telegraph has been bleating on about why the United Kingdom need to withdraw from the ECHR, but then uses the ECHR as a means to argue that removing the VAT exemption from private education would be unlawful. Good luck to Eton et al if they decide to instruct him, his hourly rate is reportedly £5,000... plus VAT
ReplyDeleteThe Telegraph isn't: Leftie Lord Pannick is!
DeleteExpecting private organisations to pay their full tax share is not a breach of the ECHR as there are options to downsize the home to cover costs, attend state school etc etc.
ReplyDeleteBut let's say it is. Let's say the price rise caused by them finally having pay tax and people getting priced out is a breach of the ECHR; where does that take us?
Well, seems to me that those who were already priced out on current prices could appeal to the ECHR for the exact same reasons. Or does the ECHR only apply to those over an income threshold?
No one is being denied an education, the argument is complete cobblers!
Yes, they are if the rise forces them to trade down to a crap state school
DeleteThere is no article in the European Convention on Human Rights declaring it a human right to have private education free of VAT or any other tax. You are talking "crap."
DeleteHornet is coming to this issue very late in the day & long after everyone has made up their minds on the issue . Labour is determined to end the business tax subsidy for private schools ( who have ruthlessly raised fees & profits in recent years without dampening demand ). Labour does not believe that there will be wholesale & immediate movement into the state system nor that most schools will pass on the full 20% tax . RBKC has many excellent state schools which ,because if the exodus of continentals , now have spare places . Labour is also keen to note that the money raised from school fee taxation is ring-fenced to be spent on specialist maths & science teachers and on school student mental health . Who can object to that ?
ReplyDeleteSorry....who has made up their minds on the issue? You? As for RBKC having 'many excellent state schools:'...name them! Holland Park Academy is certainly not one. The reason so many make sacrifices to buy private is because the state offer is shit. If it wasn't they wouldn't need to
Delete23:12 You have no idea what you are talking about. Private schools had to raise fees because overheads like staff etc have gone through the roof. You may not believe there will be an immediate swamping of the state system as parents move but that is just your opinion as it meets your POV. Parents make huge sacrifices to meet fees. If running a private school was so profitable why have so many closed their doors.
DeleteMy niece has a kid at a day prep in Kent. Fees are not much and the school breaks even. She is now going to have to disrupt Peter's education and remove him to a state school of which in her area means a school with a low OFSTED rating.
ReplyDeleteThis will raise little money bit will make Angela Rayner and her extreme left clique happy. Pathetic
ReplyDeleteNot just Angela Rayner but the parents of the 93% of children whose parents cannot buy then the advantages and access that has traditionally gone with private education. And the money raised will be spent on improving the education and life chances of the 93% . I am so excited by this long overdue example of 'levelling up' that I really can't wait til Thursday !
DeleteNah...you are excited about the idea of damaging the private sector. £1.8 m spread amongst 27,000 state schools is piss in the wind. Most state schools are rubbish. Children who want to get on and teachers who want to teach are terrified. Why do you think parents make sacrifices to educate their kids privately? You don't need to in other countries. Socialism says we are all equal so we all have to endure rubbish state schools to ensure equality. Look at thick Rayner. Practically inarticulate...
DeleteIts going to happen so get used to it !
ReplyDeleteis goin' 'appen get used to it, mate( yeah, I know I missed out on de skoolin thing)
DeleteOne should never judge politicians on the schools that their parents sent them to , but it is entirely appropriate to judge them on the choices that they the
ReplyDeletemake for their own children.
I will therefore be very surprised if any member of the incoming Labour government chooses fee paying schools for their children . And l am entitled to judge EDC and Diane Abbott for the choices they made for their own children