Hundreds of thousands of campaigners make last-gasp plea to halt Labour’s VAT raid on private schools – claiming parents simply cannot afford it _ Hieuuk
Campaigners will today deliver a petition to Downing Street with 203,400 signatures calling for private school fees to remain VAT-free.
The Education Not Taxation (ENT) group wants Labour to scrap plans to add the levy, claiming that parents cannot afford it.
It claims many of the signatories are working parents who will have to pull their children out of their schools.
The action comes ahead of a debate today in the House of Lords, where Lord Lexden, President of the Independent Schools Association, will argue against the tax.
ENT said it is backed by parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), who cannot get the attention they require within state schools. The petition, on the Change.org website, includes a number of videos made by parents.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson (pictured) has claimed the money raised from the levy will fund 6,500 new teachers
Lord Lexden, pictured, President of the Independent Schools Association, will argue against the tax.
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One father said: ‘There is a misconception that everyone who sends their children to private school is fabulously wealthy – that is not the case. We make incredible sacrifices to send our children to school.’
A mother of severely dyslexic children said: ‘It has never been a choice to send my kids to private school.
‘It has felt like a necessity that has cost dearly and continues to be a struggle. They need specialist provision and the state does not provide this.’
Sir Keir Starmer has said the new tax will apply from January, which gives parents just four months to find another school if they cannot afford the rise.
Many have been told by their local councils that their preferred choices of state school are full.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has claimed the money raised from the levy will fund 6,500 new teachers.
A spokesman for ENT said: ‘Ideally we would like this policy scrapped but, at the very least, we hope to minimise its damage. To that end, we want to work constructively with the Government. We will submit our petition to the Prime Minister’s office in the hope our voices will finally be heard.’
The Department for Education was asked to comment.
