Almost one in ten parents desert private schools after VAT fee rise thetimes.com/article/5a129fb…

The responses to this post yet again show how Labours plan to pit parent against parent has been a success. From the usual Tarquin and Jemima comments, to the tiny violin pictures and cries of "why should the tax payer subsidise them". Its all there from the clueless to the purely spiteful. Not once do any of these people stop and think that there are now currently several hundred young girls about to be torn from their friendship groups, teachers and other staff looking for jobs. These girls have seen their last Christmas together at school. Every single moment from now until July will be a "last" time with the teachers they enjoy, at the school they enjoy and with the friends they love. With the national average of 20% send pupils, there are now going to be around 50 young girls with SEND requirements looking for a new school. Yet here we are with the tiny violins and spiteful comments from the terminally spiteful and prejudiced. When private school parents shouted about the injustice to send children, the tiny violins were rife. During the court case when the government even stated that it KNEW the vat policy would disproportionately affect send pupils, but they went ahead on revenue grounds, the tiny violins were out again. Now with the recent white paper detailing changes to send being examined properly (rather than swallowing the rhetoric from @bphillipsonMP ) all of a sudden state schools and parents using state send services are concerned. Another item that's flown under the radar is the proposal to link school funding to the income demographic of the pupils. So all those people that were happy to see VAT added to fees, posting tiny violins and calling the parents privileged and toffs for buying a £100k education, whilst simultaneously paying £200k more for their house so they could get into the best state catchment area, are about to see that what goes around comes around. So, back to this post from @vickygrayson_ and those quick to post the tiny violins and spiteful responses. Take a look at what this government is actually doing. Take a look at where this attack on who you perceive to be privileged is leading, and spare a moment to think about how you would feel if this was your school and your child. Because if you don't show concern for others, then don't be surprised when you are the next rung down on their privileged hit list. In the words of the manic street preachers, If you tolerate this, then your children will be next.

Returned the favour and 'ambushed' @MartinSLewis in my office today with a group of graduates suffering under Plan 2 loan repayments! But good on him for coming over to Parliament for round 2 of our debate on my plan to cut interest rates on student loans. Martin and I don't agree on everything - but we know that graduates are being shafted by the current system, and we both care enough to try and change it. And unlike Keir Starmer, Martin is willing to listen. Once again Starmer didn't answer any of my questions on student loans earlier today in PMQs. It's because the PM knows that under his government graduates are getting poorer and job opportunities are disappearing. Labour have no plan for young people. I do.

‘We are making the life sacrifices to do the best for our children!’ Gary Chaplin, parent of a Year 12 pupil at Alderley Edge School, explains the impact of the school being expected to shut this July after the Labour government raised VAT on private schools.

Alderley Edge School for Girls has announced with “shock and sadness” that it plans to shut. VAT on school fees, the removal of business rates relief, higher NI contributions & rising costs has led to the situation. Shame on this Labour government. knutsfordguardian.co.uk/news…

When Labour announced VAT on private school fees, they promised it would raise £1.7 billion for state schools. With 25,000 pupils already forced out, eight times more than predicted, the policy is on track to cost taxpayers money rather than raise it. A thread🧵