AXE PRIVATE SCHOOL TAX BREAK PERKS
Poll supports Labour’s plan for fairness
VOTERS back Labour’s plan to scrap tax breaks for private schools, a poll has revealed.
Keir Starmer wants to remove the elite institutions’ charitable status, which currently means parents do not pay VAT on fees.
Rishi Sunak and his Cabinet, crammed full of privately-educated Tories, have rejected the move.
A survey, conducted for the Mirror by Redfield and Wilton, found overwhelming support for the idea.
Almost two thirds – 62% – believe private schools should be stripped of charitable status.
As well as being exempt from charging VAT, in England and Wales the schools get at least 80% relief on business rates.
Labour has said it would use the £1.7billion that would be raised from scrapping the tax perks to improve the state system.
Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “This polling proves Labour is on the side of families who want to see the highest possible standards in state schools.
“If Rishi Sunak cares about fairness, he would listen to voters and end private schools’ tax breaks, instead of defending the indefensible.” At Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, the Labour leader took aim at Mr Sunak’s old private school and asked why it receives “nearly £6 million of taxpayers’ money”. The Mirror revealed yesterday that private schools attended by Cabinet members avoided charging £65million in VAT on fees last year as a result of their charitable status. Labour analysis of accounts submitted to the Charity Commission found gross fee income received by elite schools amounted to more then £329m in 2021.
Redfield and Wilton interviewed 1,500 British adults online on November 30.