Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer has announced that a Labor government will quickly introduce taxes on private school fees.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Starmer confirmed that the VAT exemption that private schools currently enjoy would be removed “as quickly as it can be done”, leading to a 20% rise in fees.
The exemption from VAT, which independent schools benefit from due to their classification within the educational offer, allows them to avoid the imposition of VAT on their fees. Labour's proposal aims to redirect this financial advantage to better support state education.
Starmer stressed the urgency of the policy, saying: “Clearly there has to be financials and so on. It is a matter of timetable in Parliament. But these first steps are intended to be taken immediately.”
Removing the VAT exemption is part of Labour's wider strategy to tackle inequalities in education funding and ensure public resources are distributed more equitably. The immediate implementation of this tax highlights Labour's commitment to reforming the education sector and investing in public schools.