Parents of private school students urged to put their children’s names down for state schools – they never intend to send them to – in bid to ‘disrupt’ Labour’s VAT on fees plan
Parents of privately educated children are being urged to apply for places at state schools in a bid to ‘disrupt’ the culture of education Work‘s plan to post VAT on reimbursements.
Campaigners want families to put their children’s names in taxpayer-funded schools – even if they never plan to take that place – as a ‘demonstration’ against the policy, which Labor says would raise £1.7 billion for the state sector.
The campaigners, based in Scotland, have a Facebook group called The Edinburgh Question that has 2,000 members.
They have vowed to ‘drive protests against the introduction of VAT on private school fees’, according to the Daily Record.
The group said: ‘We thought it would be useful to start a page where parents… could coordinate a response, the most obvious of which would be to register your child in a public school as a demonstration school.
Parents of privately educated children are being urged to apply for public school places in a bid to ‘disrupt’ Labour’s plan to impose VAT on tuition fees (Stock Image)
Keir Starmer’s party (pictured) has announced plans to impose VAT on private school fees
“Even if this is not something you plan to address… we would encourage you to take action to support the many families who will be adversely affected if these policies are implemented.”
However, the move was branded ‘disgraceful and selfish’ by Labor peer Lord Foulkes, who said it could ‘harm genuine students who want to go to state schools’.
He added, “Not only are they trying to protect their privilege, but they’re also trying to protect the subsidy on their privilege.”
It comes after a number of English councils warned that pupils migrating from the private sector could struggle to find places at state schools, which have already allocated places for September.
Most private schools are expected to increase their fees if VAT is imposed, driving away many parents.
The Edinburgh Question group was contacted for comment.
