Starmer Defends Labour’s VAT Plan on Private Schools, Asserts No Evidence of Forced Closures

Sir Keir Starmer has stated that there is "no evidence" to suggest that private schools would be forced to shut down as a result of Labour's proposal to impose VAT on them. This policy, included in the Labour Party's manifesto, aims to use the revenue generated from taxing private schools to bolster state education.

Thursday, June 27, 2024, 9:

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Sir Keir Starmer has stated that there is "no evidence" suggesting that private schools would have to shut down as a result of Labour's proposal to apply VAT to their fees.

In a conversation with Sky News' Sophy Ridge, the leader of the Labour Party justified their educational strategy, which involves reallocating funds to bolster public schools.

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"He believes they will adjust," he noted. "Over the past 14 years, they've faced numerous cost hikes and have managed to cope with them."

"There is no indication that these schools are going to shut down. They are not required to transfer the expenses to the parents."

Currently, private schools do not have to pay VAT, however, the Labour Party has committed to ending this exemption.

Sir Keir faced intense questioning about the policy during the Sky News Leaders' event in Grimsby.

Deciding is tough.

Responding to the worries of parents, he stated: "It's a tough decision. However, ultimately, they are enterprises and they are quite successful overall."

"I desire their success. However, we must decide, because ultimately, if I aim to secure the necessary teachers for our state secondary schools, I must address your inevitable question: how do you plan to fund it?"

"The funding for this will come from eliminating the tax incentives for private schools, redirecting those funds towards hiring more teachers in our public secondary schools."

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Sir Keir faced questions about the recent criticism of the policy, which Ms Ridge implied could stem from the fact that "numerous individuals in Westminster and in the media attended private schools or have children who attend them."

"He agreed, suggesting there was some truth to that idea."

Educational foundation in a grammar school

The leader of the Labour Party discussed the recent televised debate with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Sky News, just before the national elections scheduled for July 4.

A quick Yougov survey indicated that the public had a similar opinion of their showing at the Wednesday event in Nottingham.

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Ms. Ridge further inquired about the educational background of the Labour leader. He went to a grammar school in Surrey that transitioned to a private institution during his time there.

When questioned about his reaction to the alteration, he responded, "I don't believe I fully realized its impact."

"If you consult anyone who attended school alongside me, you'll find that we began as state grammar school students funded by the local government, and that's exactly how we finished."

He emphasized that the council's financial and logistical backing had not changed.

"Clearly, things have changed, but ensuring that every kid gets those chances is crucial to me," he continued.

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The head of the Labour Party has outlined his initial priorities if he becomes Prime Minister on July 5th, which include increasing NHS appointments by 40,000 to tackle long waiting times, hiring more secondary school educators, and establishing 'Great British Energy' aimed at curbing the surge in energy costs.

NHS prepared for upcoming advancements

He stated his intention to transform the foundation of the NHS, emphasizing a significant increase in the utilization of AI to shift towards more preventative and community-focused healthcare approaches.

"He pointed out that the establishment of the NHS is an annual celebration for us."

"I aim to ensure that decades from now, people will commemorate a Labour government elected in 2024 for not only preserving the NHS but also fortifying it for the years ahead."

In response to a question about his sentiments as the election campaign concludes, he stated, "We've been at this for four and a half years."

On the morning of January 1st, I greeted the day with a grin, excited by the prospect of a forthcoming election this year.

"We are fully prepared. We have a compelling proposal for the nation. Thus, we are approaching the campaign cheerfully and with great enthusiasm."

During a recent television debate, Sir Keir revealed that he relies on coffee to sustain him through election campaigns, contrasting with his opponent Mr. Sunak's admission of indulging in Haribo sweets.

"He mentioned having coffee along with cheese and tuna sandwiches at the rear of the Labour bus."

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