Mainly interested in military technology, global security and education.
Joined January 2009
- Tweets 2,535
- Following 910
- Followers 650
- Likes 5,284
66 Photos and videos
Ed O'Brien retweeted
26 Jan 2025
Take note @bphillipsonMP. For some children, state schools with their larger class sizes are not the answer. That’s why some parents choose independent schools—schools that can meet their child’s needs. Don’t tax it out of reach, support it so it’s available to more children. #EducationNotTax
25 Jan 2025
Some kids need small classes tailored to their needs. Inclusion cannot work for 100% of students. And we need to bring back more alternative schools. #education #teachersoftiktok
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Ed O'Brien retweeted
24 Jan 2025
BREAKING - Labour exempts children of American service personnel from VAT on independent school fees telegraph.co.uk/money/tax/la…
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25 Jan 2025
Perhaps the government should have noted this before they imposed tax on independent education. And no, despite @bphillipsonMP’s claims, the tax on independent education won’t make state schools better (the head of the Institute for Fiscal Studies stated this very clearly).
24 Jan 2025
Quality education is not a luxury —it is a human right.
On Friday's #EducationDay, learn about how the #GlobalGoals can help ensure inclusive, quality education for a better future for all: un.org/sustainabledevelopmen…
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Ed O'Brien retweeted
24 Jan 2025
Outrageous. The Chancellor has reneged on her commitment to British serving personnel while standing by her commitment to the US military. It should be one rule for all. telegraph.co.uk/money/tax/la…
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25 Jan 2025
US military families based in UK don’t pay tax on independent school fees but British military families do.
Military families must move regularly so lots rely on independent boarding schools for continuity.
Has Labour heard of the Armed Forces Covenant?
telegraph.co.uk/money/tax/la…
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25 Jan 2025
Apparently @UKLabour has signed the Armed Forces Covenant and committed to put it into law.
This seems incompatible with not exempting UK service families from tax on independent school fees, especially as US military families based in the UK are exempt
helpforheroes.org.uk/about-u…
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25 Jan 2025
Lots of forces families’ circumstances do not fit into the rightly very tight set of rules to qualify for the MOD continuity of education allowance (CEA) and so self fund independent schooling themselves, without which they often wouldn’t be able to continue serving.
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25 Jan 2025
In theory CEA can cover up to 90% of school fees but it has not kept up with inflation so many families contribute far more than 10%. CEA was increased by just 14% when the government imposed 20% VAT on school fees, plus removed schools’ business rates relief, plus increased NIC.
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Ed O'Brien retweeted
18 Jan 2025
The Government has been consistently disingenuous when calling the introduction of VAT on school fees a “tax break”. It is no such thing. Education has never been taxed, and nor should it.
The decision of the High Court to expedite the legal challenge against the Government’s decision is very welcome news. The urgency of this case is clear.
telegraph.co.uk/money/tax/hi…
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Ed O'Brien retweeted
19 Jan 2025
Increasing the cost of private schools fees by 20% with the addition of VAT has not only ensured British children would leave, but international children too.
It’s almost as everything the *actual* experts told us would happen, is actually happening.
Who would have thought?
19 Jan 2025
As I was saying…
inews.co.uk/news/private-sch…
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19 Jan 2025
I wonder what the bookies’ odds on @bphillipsonMP resigning in the next month or so are.
Along with this ⬇️ she’ll presumably also carry the can for taxing independent education if that is found to be illegal in court in a few months’ time.
18 Jan 2025
EXCL: Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is under pressure from No10 over schools academy reforms.
No10 said to be shocked by scale of the backlash to the Bill.
No10 deny a rift. But Govt insiders says Bridget is "in the dog house"
thesun.co.uk/news/politics/3…
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Ed O'Brien retweeted
18 Jan 2025
If you’re a state school parent and you thought @bphillipsonMP was on your side, think again. The best leader in state education has exposed every element of her regressive policies. No child’s eduction is safe under this Secretary of State for Education.
18 Jan 2025
“She undermines the very freedoms that have enabled us to make the progress that we have made over the last decade.”
Katharine Birbalsingh tells Rod Liddle why she is against Labour’s Education bill.
@Miss_Snuffy | #TimesRadio
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Ed O'Brien retweeted
18 Jan 2025
Petition to stop the tax on school fees has hit 100,000 signatures and will now be debated in Parliament on March 3rd. This harmful policy must be stopped - share it with your MP and urge them to attend the debate!
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18 Jan 2025
Now only a matter of time until the beleaguered @bphillipsonMP resigns.
@Miss_Snuffy lays out many of Phillipson’s policy failings caused by her extreme political ideology here ⬇️.
At the same time, legal challenges to her private school tax are fast tracked through the courts.
17 Jan 2025
My open letter to the Education Secretary @bphillipsonMP
Many teachers and school leaders share my concerns with regard to her decisions but are scared to say.
If you can find it in you, please RT.
My letter is also here: spectator.co.uk/article/what…
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Ed O'Brien retweeted
17 Jan 2025
My open letter to the Education Secretary @bphillipsonMP
Many teachers and school leaders share my concerns with regard to her decisions but are scared to say.
If you can find it in you, please RT.
My letter is also here: spectator.co.uk/article/what…
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Ed O'Brien retweeted
17 Jan 2025
The Judicial Review of the government's imposition of VAT on school fees will be fast-tracked through the High Court.
The government's lawyers lost their bid to delay. Claimants include vulnerable children being impacted so there is no time to lose.
telegraph.co.uk/money/tax/hi…
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Ed O'Brien retweeted
17 Jan 2025
A legal challenge against Labour’s tax raid on private schools will be fast-tracked through the High Court over fears it breaches the human rights of children. telegraph.co.uk/money/tax/hi… Great to see the court agrees with the urgency required. This isn’t over yet. #EducationNotTax
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17 Jan 2025
“the Government’s legal team opposed the request for expedited proceedings, asking for more time to review the evidence”
Ironic they are asking for more time given Labour rushed in its schools tax mid-academic year, too fast for schools & parents to plan
inews.co.uk/news/legal-chall…
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Ed O'Brien retweeted
17 Jan 2025
Exclusive | The High Court has ruled to “fast-track” a legal challenge to the Government’s decision to impose VAT on private school fees, the Independent Schools Council has announced
🔴 @connie_dimsdale reports
trib.al/0UddxEE
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