Labour Intends To Add 20% Vat To Private School Fees ...

[naomi24]

... which will put private schooling out of reach of many parents, resulting in an added burden to the already over-crowded classrooms in state schools.   Similarly, they say they are against private health care which also alleviates the burden on the State system.  Nevertheless, Mr Starmer would rather his loved ones suffer than use it.   So the question is when 'going private' means that people take responsibility for themselves it follows that the State has less to cope with, so what's so bad about it?

[jourdain2]

'All children, regardless of their background, should be given the greatest opportunkities in life' (electrochem).

Of course they should - but our system isn't up to that. 'Comprehensive' does not and cannot be comprehensive without huge, massive, investment which is just not going to happen. So why disadvantage those children needing special treatment whose parents try to help them succeed?  Better to save some than none.

I worked in the state system for long enough to know.

I'll give a current example.  Music and the Arts generally are gradually being squeezed to extinction in the state system.  There is no argument about that.

My younger granddaughter has inherited the family 'voice' and sings quite beautifully; she also has dramatic flair. Her recent report says that she is working well beyond any expected standards  in music and drama.  Why?  Because I am paying her state school for her to have an independent tutor outside of normal timetabled lessons.  Others are making this viable.  The school could not afford it on its own.

There is a need for specialist schools.  The state does not provide this. There is a desperate need for specialist schools in certain areas of special educational needs. I know people who sent S.E.N. children to these to enable their children to have a chance to achieve. I have experienced teaching a profoundly deaf child in a large, Bradford Comp.. OK it was a small class and she had a 'minder' in class - but I wasn't trained for this (fortunately I knew basic signing) and she was horribly out of her depth outside the classroom. There used to be special schools for the deaf. Etc., etc.. 

Kids at both ends of the spectrum have needs that are unmet by the state and if parents want to pay to help their children - why should the state make it harder for them? They are already saving the state the cost of 1 school place.

 

 

[Maydup]

If people can afford private education (and private health care come to that), its most likely that once the crying is over, they will be able to afford it plus VAT.

[Deskdiary]

Or take it to a basic...do you think if you have a crappy car or house (I suspect you have both) that people with more money than you shouldn't have a better car and house. Because that's what I'm hearing.

[naomi24]

It seems to me that the blood boilers are, for one reason or another, those who can't have what others have.  Given the option would they turn it down?  No, they wouldn't.  Starmer says rather than choose private health care, he would leave loved ones suffering.  He wouldn't.  He's a liar.  

[jourdain2]

I wouldn't have been able to, maydup. Nor would many others. This would distance the rich from the average even more and split society even more.

[Ellipsis]

> If people can afford private education (and private health care come to that), its most likely that once the crying is over, they will be able to afford it plus VAT.

And if they can't, they become like lots of others who can't afford it.

The country is on its knees and getting worse. Because of that, it's natural that there is more hardship than there was. Make it better? Then make it better for everyone, don't take more from the have-nots to keep the haves with what they've already had ...

[bednobs]

there are still schools for the deaf

[naomi24]

By choosing private schooling or healthcare, no one is taking from the have nots.  Quite the opposite.  Those who take responsibility for themselves are not a drain on public resources.  They still pay their taxes so in effect pay twice over for what they get.

[Maydup]

I'm not against people deciding where their priorities lie and no objection at all to them affording, private education, tickets to the football, holidays, cars, make up; the list goes on but none of them are essentials and therefore Vatable. 

[gulliver1]

Deskdiary @ 18.05 .As Naomi told me @ 15.39 "stick to the topic please"..And again @ 15.57.....This thread is not about you wife's ear operation .It's about the parents of children at private schools.

[Hymie]

The average UK salary (before tax deductions) is less than £30k; posts on here have suggested a total yearly cost of private education of circa £30k – and people are claiming that those sending their children to private school are not wealthy.

So if average earners are sending their children to private schools, it is costing more than their gross income.

If they want to spend all their money on that, that is up to them, but as a luxury spend it should include VAT.

 

With regard people paying for private health care – the Tories have run the health service into the ground (while blaming everyone else for the state of the NHS) – hopefully the Labour government will fulfil its promises and bring waiting times back to those during the last Labour government, and people will no longer have to pay to get timely treatment they need.

[gulliver1]

Come on Naomi. You just have to give Hymie Best answer @ 21.46.

[Deskdiary]

The average median salary is £35k. If you are going to spout nonsense at least try to get something right.

 

 

[andy-hughes]

This nasty spiteful small-minded policy is designed to appeal to the caricature Lanour voter, who hates rich people having anything they can't have.

But as Tony Blair realised, and capitalised on, Labour voters these days are not cloth-cap wearers with coal in the bath and a whippet in the yard.

They are aspirational, and a large number of them do save to send their children to private schools, and it would be folly indeed to alienate them in the pursuit of approval that will absolutely not be forthcoming.

[Deskdiary]

There is nothing in your post Hymie that stands up objective measure.

 

You are a very poor debater because you start with a false premise and then run with that false premise.

 

D minus should do better (ring a bell?).

[perseverer]

Naomi, what you say (21.08) about paying for private healthcare might be valid if you can convince me that none of the doctors etc involved also work for the NHS.

[Deskdiary]

Pretty much all of the Doctors who privately also work in the NHS.

 

Your point being?

[Hymie]

At least those on an average £35k will have £5k left after paying their child’s school fees.

Of course in reality, after tax deductions on their income, they will be left with nothing.

[naomi24]

Hymie, most families have two incomes.

 

Perseverer, we know some doctors work in the NHS and the private sector.  
 

gulliver, catch on.  Read the op.