News from the Guardian that
The UK’s biggest and richest private schools are in line for substantial financial windfalls as a consequence of the government’s plan to impose VAT on their fees, according to official new guidance issued by tax authorities.
has done nothing to undermine the impression that out new government isn't terribly good at governing.
But this wasn't the reason that Liberal Democrat MPs gave for voting against Labour's plans last week.
Today, #LibDem colleagues and I voted against ending the VAT exemption on private school fees because we believe in protecting parental choice and opposing the taxation of education.
— Charlotte Cane MP🔶 (@CharlotteCane8) October 8, 2024
No one is going to march in support of the taxation of education, but that does feel a little like a principle you make up to appeal to once you have decided how you are going to vote.
And I'm pleased to see our MPs supporting parental choice. It's just that I'd like to hear our plans for extending it beyond the seven per cent of parents who send their children to private schools.
3 comments:
I agree that this is disappointing triangulation. The issue of 'choice' here only affects those parents (and grandparents) for whom any rising cost associated with VAT would make a private school place unaffordable. This is a tiny number, and doesn't really constitute a defence of 'choice' at all.
Labour's plans to make private schools even more elitist by pushing up school fees and cutting bursary funds should indeed be opposed.
Liberals have always argued education is a public good and those providing it should not be taxed in the same way as other businesses. If people earn good money and choose to send their children to a private school rather than buy an expensive new car every year they should be applauded, not criticised.
While some parents choose between an "expensive new car" or " private school fees" in the meantime parents in my locality choose between sending their child to the local underfunded school having eaten breakfast or not. Freedom of choice you're having a laugh
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