Victoria

REVEALED: the full, devastating impact of Labour’s VAT raid on private schools. Over 16,000 pupils have left private schools due to VAT on fees. Where Labour said 3,000 would leave by July, it is now even more certain that this policy is loss making. telegraph.co.uk/money/tax/deva…

This report shows a govt weakening SEND protections. This same govt has made it harder for families to access support privately through VAT on school fees. Do they have no shame? All children deserve better, and parents doing right by their child should not be taxed for doing so. #ScrapVAT #EducationNotTax

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said lawyers who oppose her SEND reforms are a 'vested interest' who are 'exploiting parents'. This morning, a rebuke from Law Society president, Mark Evans. lawgazette.co.uk/news/society-r…

The common thread is Labour's incomprehension of markets. Evidence of this so far: - Housing policies that build in places people don't want to buy - Ideological attacks on independent schools - Wage increases for public sector workers - Threats on CGT

Right up there as one of Phillipson’s most appalling traits, is her arrogantly wilful ignorance about schools and schooling. She makes it obvious she knows absolutely nothing about the sector she is meant to manage.

@llllllggggggees @AdamJ10812 @TheScholar44 @hayek_tendency Yes. Over 100,00 children.

@vickygrayson_ @AdamJ10812 @TheScholar44 @hayek_tendency I thought it was SEN without an EHCP?

“Almost one in ten parents desert private schools after VAT fee rise. 22% said they were planning to remove their child from their school, either by switching to a cheaper independent school at home or abroad, or by going to the state education system.” thetimes.com/uk/education/a…

@llllllggggggees @TheScholar44 @AdamJ10812 @hayek_tendency Did you read Labour’s manifesto? There are no new teachers.

@TheScholar44 @vickygrayson_ @AdamJ10812 @hayek_tendency Benefits, partly depends upon how it is allocated. It will improve *some* schools and protect others are school funding declines. (Falling rolls)

@llllllggggggees @AdamJ10812 @TheScholar44 @hayek_tendency Sure. They were talking about over 100,000 children.

@vickygrayson_ @AdamJ10812 @TheScholar44 @hayek_tendency "Some" was the word that was used. In other words, others will not be. I believe (from memory) that the Judge was talking about a narrow subset of people in this quote. Some students both in PS and the state sector, I believe more. I don't see painless solutions.

@TheScholar44 @llllllggggggees @AdamJ10812 @hayek_tendency It’s extraordinary isn’t it. The Tories gave schools far more than a billion every year and all we heard was cuts and it isn’t enough. Now private school parents are supposedly giving state schools a billion extra in 2029 and suddenly this will transform the sector for 9m kids.

@llllllggggggees @vickygrayson_ @AdamJ10812 @hayek_tendency So you do think the extra bln tax rev will improve S? If that were the case, extraordinary it wasn't given to them before. Pos NPV after all What benefits arise do you think? 90pc who can afford PS are in S. What's the marginal benefit of adding say 10pc of the 6pc?

@llllllggggggees @AdamJ10812 @TheScholar44 @hayek_tendency It’s not like the judges have already said that some children will actually be worse off in schools that don’t support them? I don’t think the judges said they’ll be heading to better schools… Must just be you that thinks that, Clem.

@llllllggggggees @AdamJ10812 @TheScholar44 @hayek_tendency Name one benefit you have seen. VAT has been in place for one year so far. “Better off in better schools?” You believe the state is better at choosing schools than a child’s own parents? Wow.

@llllllggggggees @TheScholar44 @AdamJ10812 @hayek_tendency What do you mean by “worst” though? Yes, the only schools opening are small religious ones funded mainly via donations (no VAT) and parents paying very low fees. Nothing like the ones closing.

@vickygrayson_ @TheScholar44 @AdamJ10812 @hayek_tendency I also believe that it will generally be the worst schools that fail, most will cope fine and the others will adapt. I also wonder if "new models" will be developed - there's a mkt opportunity!

@llllllggggggees @TheScholar44 @AdamJ10812 @hayek_tendency Well exactly. This is what I don’t get though, Clem. You know this particular policy won’t actually bring anything positive to the state sector. Or to anyone. It will only bring negative effects to children, schools, staff and families. You know why Labour did it.

@vickygrayson_ @TheScholar44 @AdamJ10812 @hayek_tendency It's worse than you think. It's not just poor services, we have a huge debt, crumbling infrastructure & aging population. + you're only electable if you promise false optimism & pretend the're are easy solutions. + short term factors like a US market crash around the corner 😔.

@AdamJ10812 @TheScholar44 @llllllggggggees @hayek_tendency Doesn’t look like those 300 HNWI working harder to pay VAT lifted the economy. Strange. Imagine putting out policy after policy that incentivises people to not work as hard and then be shocked when it happens.

@vickygrayson_ @TheScholar44 @llllllggggggees @hayek_tendency I’d also like to come back to 3% giving up work to homeschool being not very much of an impact. £40k salary = £13k (17k at £50 salary). 3% of PS pupils is 18k pupils. 18k * say £15k is £270m

A thoughtful analogy for how "equality" works in state education. The needs of the system come before the needs of kids, except those able to find their way to catchment areas and grammars. #vouchers4schools to fix this mess.

@llllllggggggees @TheScholar44 @AdamJ10812 @hayek_tendency My brother emigrated & he doesn’t have children. Had enough of constant squeezing & life getting harder. Begs the question what is the point when you know services won’t improve. Like you know VAT won’t improve state schools yet here we are talking about families working harder.

@vickygrayson_ @TheScholar44 @AdamJ10812 @hayek_tendency I presume the childless people are not moving abroad to avoid VAT on school fees! 😄 Re "the general situation," we spent 20 years selling state assets and 20 years borrowing to subsidise living standards. Now we're starting from scratch - whoever's in it'll be painful!

@llllllggggggees @AdamJ10812 @hayek_tendency @TheScholar44 It’s not about saving tax. It’s about a better of quality of life. And not living in a country that attacks you for choosing how you wish to educate your children. And have a government actively working out how to disadvantage your children and punish your choices. I want out.

@vickygrayson_ @AdamJ10812 @hayek_tendency @TheScholar44 Not that I have any problem with Dubai or anywhere else, I just want to stay with my family and friends rather than move abroad to save a few grand on tax! Does that make me weird? 🤷🏻

@TheScholar44 @llllllggggggees @AdamJ10812 @hayek_tendency It’s not even only parents with children. Childless people are moving abroad. It’s also nothing to do with affordability. Parents at my son’s school are moving abroad as they are simply fed up of paying so much tax and services being rubbish. People have had enough of it.

@llllllggggggees @vickygrayson_ @AdamJ10812 @hayek_tendency I'm currently moving a business there. Only anecdata, but I personally know numerous others doing so. All the various providers are busy arranging for many many others. One sector and only my experience. These last few weeks might impact. But it's happening at scale

@llllllggggggees @AdamJ10812 @hayek_tendency I’ve been offered job roles abroad and I’m not sure why you think affordability affects this. You can get a relocation payment and they put you up in accommodation for a few months. One of my colleagues just moved to Dubai. @TheScholar44 speaks about this a lot. It’s happening.

@vickygrayson_ @AdamJ10812 @hayek_tendency It would be if they did move abroad. However, I'm not sure if those that are affected by a few thousand a year are likely to be able to afford to move their families abroad. I know the DT etc have been running stories about this, but their claims are not supported by data.

@llllllggggggees @AdamJ10812 @hayek_tendency I think if a big chunk of that 22% move abroad you really are going to have to put in quite a shift to fill the black hole they create if some parents are increasing their earnings solely to pay VAT. One HNWI moving abroad will make quite a loss. It’s not good for any of us.

@vickygrayson_ @AdamJ10812 @hayek_tendency I know it might in some cases but HNWI individuals r used to having a surplus on wages at the end of the month - it's why their HNWI in most cases. It's obviously those at the margin who sadly have the make the choice - work harder or withdraw their kids. Some will work harder

@llllllggggggees @AdamJ10812 @hayek_tendency Looking at the Saltus data, 21% said they had taken or planned to work harder whereas 9% have removed their kids with a further 22% either moving to a cheaper private school, moving abroad or moving to state. You have far more on the migrate side potentially earning less.

@AdamJ10812 @vickygrayson_ @hayek_tendency Not really odd, just different. Some "leavers" will work less hard, like you, but many will work harder to pay the extra - currently, there are far more "remainers." For most a few thousand pa won't make that much difference - reduced pension contributions/ cheaper holiday(s)?