Party to strip independent schools of charitable status if it wins general election and says it would raise £1.7 billion for state education
Labour is planning to impose VAT on private schools in its first year in power if it wins the next general election, risking an imminent fee hike for parents.
The party would immediately strip independent schools of their charitable status, scrapping their 20 per cent VAT exemption and business rates relief.
Labour claims the change would raise £1.7 billion, with “every penny” of new tax takings funnelled into state education.
But senior sources in the private sector have said they will be pushing for a full consultation on the proposals, as they believe the situation is more complicated than Labour realises or is willing to admit.