Today, 3rd March 2025, a key debate on the e-petition will take place at  Westminster Hall. https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/c0367db8-6dfe-490d-99c9-7d422c75c586?fbclid=IwY2xjawIyQ-9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHSWMguH_T5yX7OfaGeh_RB4JBqfIP6jsQM76MtpC2pgX6RsiZRsjGs1FZg_aem_5XVLKKfkIzwrIJyzEclXOw
on the subject of VAT being added to independent school bills of 20% and rates relief. This educational reform is a key flag ship of the new labour government. Two court cases are due to be heard soon in support of children and their families being discriminated and charged an excessive amount on top of the school fee. The government claims it is a 'tax break' but education is never taxed as it is a 'merit good' for society and no European country can do this and this is enshrined in European human rights conventions. Greece is an example of where this experiment miserably failed. 

Some say that Change Labour's policy of closing down independent schools in the UK has been a long-standing ambition. Since July 2024 the Labour government has gone full steam ahead to bring this vision into reality with the imposition of VAT (20%) applied to school fees from January 2025. One of Change Labour's  leading proponents for implementing this policy has been Bridget Phillipson, the Secretary of State for Education (MP for Haughton and Sunderland South 
https://www.bridgetphillipson.com/.) Some say she is driven by a Marxist ideology and cares little for the children, teachers, parents and schools in her pursuit to give the 'best life chances' for all children.  The aim is to use the VAT income -  some 1.6 bln per year, to take off those fees paid and put that unfair tax some to fund more teachers and improve standards for the 94% of children attending state schools. She has started in this vein to provide 'subsidised' breakfasts for some 750 schools in England recently.

However, mercifully we have two outstanding opposition groups standing against this insidious policy: ENT Education Not Education https://educationnottaxation.org/ (not to be confused with ENT.... Ears, Nose and Throat!) and the ISC Independent School Council  https://www.isc.co.uk/about-isc/ representing independent schools through out the United Kingdom.


Many smaller independent schools (including faith and SEND schools) are finding it difficult to balance the books. Notably over recent months almost weekly announcements are made of impending closures due in part made by the VAT imposition, NIC contributions and the increase in rates.  This is a cruel and vindictive policy which seeks to punish hard working parents who have already contributed their share of taxes for their children's education) and those making sacrifices for their children. Many are not rich but are working parents and want the choice and also enjoy wrap around care so they can work and contribute to the wider economy.  The additional burden of the VAT will put the cost beyond many and thousands of children will be impacted and be required to enter  State education which will put more pressure on the State and will be counter productive as this policy will end up costing more than it raises. It will guarantee the disruption of the lives of young people and bring closures to great organisations that contribute to their communities and have done so for decades.


Change Labour must be prevented from delivering their ideological crusade to eradicate our proud independent schools and hopefully these legal actions this year, will end the absurdity of adding VAT to school fees.

I would like to thank and credit the artwork used in the thumbnail image which was published by https://www.spectator.co.uk to accompany the article by Peter Jones on 16th January.

Change Labour

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