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Keir Starmer defended his controversy politics from imposition VAT he private schools arguing that it will benefit the middle class.
On Monday, a few days before the entry into force, Downing Street he insisted that the tax would provide more funds for the state schools and so “raises the bar” for the majority who cannot afford the increase in fees in the independent sector.
Described by no. 10 as “the right thing to do” for the public sector, a 20 percent tax levy will be introduced from January 1.
during the weekend, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has called the tax exemption for private schools “a luxury we cannot afford”arguing that middle-class parents supported the price from the independent sector Work‘s policy.
The the prime ministersaid the official spokesman The Times: “[Fees have] increased by around 75 per cent in real terms since 2000. The average benefit has reached around £18,000 a year, which is clearly out of reach for most parents in our country.”
Asked if only the rich could afford such rising costs, he said: “Middle-class people in good professional jobs with housing costs can’t afford that level of benefits.”
Insisting that the tax “captures the support of the majority of the public”, the spokesman continued: “The additional investment we are able to make in our public schools will raise standards in our public schools.”
He added: “By ending this VAT relief for private schools, it means an extra £1.7bn of investment in our state schools where 94 per cent of children in this country are educated. It’s the real deal. That means more teachers. That means higher standards.”
The Treasury has earmarked £2.6 billion of extra funding for state schools next year to invest in improving special education provision and recruiting 6,500 new teachers, with £1.5 billion of that coming from policy changes.
The amount raised by the move will rise to £1.7 billion every year until 2029/30, it added on Sunday.
However, private school leaders have warned against the combination tax increases in the budget and the abolition of their charitable status, due to which the benefits are exempt from VAT, could lead to the “disintegration” of the sector.
They also argued that fee increases as a result of the policy would force more children into the state sector, overwhelming already overburdened schools and erasing any gains for public finances.
But Downing Street argued that the extra tax on tuition fees “will only cover a very, very small number of students who change schools”.
Another attack on politics on Monday, Conservative Party the leader Kemi Badenoch said: “The state is already struggling to support children with special needs. Labor should not penalize those parents who choose not to rely on the government. It is the politics of envy and it will make us all worse off.”
But Sir Keir’s spokesman rejected claims the tax would lead to the loss of children with disabilities and special educational needs, arguing that state schools provide the “vast majority” with the education they need.
He said: “If a child can only be supported at a private school, then the local authority will fund a place for that child and the local authority can reclaim the VAT they pay, so this change will not be affected in those circumstances. .”
However, the Independent Schools Council has warned that VAT will hit families who feel the state sector is not meeting their children’s needs.
Julie Robinson, its executive director, said: “For the families who choose our schools — most of whom are dual-income households — independent education is not a luxury; it is necessary for their child’s education and well-being.
“We remain concerned about faith-based schools, specialist arts education, single-sex people and SEND [special educational needs and disabilities] provision of services in the state and independent sectors. This government represents 100 per cent of children – it should not undermine any parent’s right to choose their child’s education.”