Phillipson accuses Tories of ‘scaremongering’ over VAT on private schools fees
Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, has challenged the Tories to explain how they would fund reversing Labour policy of putting VAT on private school fees.
In an interview with GB News, she also described Tory claims that the policy will drive large numbers of pupils out of private schools and into state schools as “scaremongering”.
Labour expects to raise about £1.3bn a year from the policy, which will into effect from January next year.
In her interview, Phillipson said:
I don’t accept the premise that we will see a significant movement from the private to the state sector. That was what the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies were also clear about where they said they thought the change would be minimal.
What we’re seeing in certain areas, in a small number of areas, because of that demographic bulge that we’re seeing that’s kind of coming through the system, particularly with older teenagers, is that there are some pinch points.
But I just don’t anticipate or recognize the characterisation of the kind of change that people are scaremongering about, frankly. And I’d say to the Conservatives who are peddling this, look, if they want to reverse this, how are they going to pay for it?
Teams of lawyers from the rich and powerful trying to stop us publishing stories they don’t want you to see.
Lobby groups with opaque funding who are determined to undermine facts about the climate emergency and other established science.
Authoritarian states with no regard for the freedom of the press.
Bad actors spreading disinformation online to undermine democracy.
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