Labour’s ‘politics of envy’ will result in college pupils being crammed into bigger lessons | Politics | News | EUROtoday

School youngsters face being “punished” and crammed into bigger lessons because of Sir Keir Starmer’s plans to tax non-public college charges, Labour has admitted.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has stated including VAT to admission prices will generate roughly £1.5bn a yr, which Labour plans to put money into state training, together with in recruiting extra academics.

But Labour’s Shadow Attorney General, Emily Thornberry, admitted hundreds of scholars may very well be compelled to go away non-public faculties and attend state-run establishments.

And this might result in the dimensions of the lessons ballooning, Ms Thornberry conceded.

She stated: “She informed GB News: “Certainly, some schools that have vacancies – my primary schools and my secondary schools have space and they’re very welcome.

“They are good faculties and folks ought to ship their youngsters there. I imply, it is positive, and if we’ve to, within the quick time period, have bigger lessons, we’ve bigger lessons.”

She continued: “All we have to do is we have to increase the cash with a view to ensure that youngsters who go into state faculties have had breakfast.

“That’s what our priority is, and we need to raise the money from somewhere. What we’re going to do is we are saying everything we’re going to spend money on, where money is coming from because we will have a proper manifesto.

“All our spending commitments will likely be costed, and we can say the place it comes from and, positive, there might be complaints about it.

“I understand that, but I’m afraid that if I have a choice between putting VAT on private schools and making sure that the children in my area can have breakfast before they start learning, I know where I am.”

She added: “It’s not much to ask and if it means putting VAT on private schools – the question is, is it appropriate in these circumstances for schools, such as in Eton or Winchester or whatever, to be seen as a charity and that, therefore, they should not be paying VAT on the huge fees that are already charged?”

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan stated pupils could be impacted by “Labour’s politics of envy”.

She stated: “Today Labour admitted their tax raid will lead to ‘larger classes’ in state schools, punishing children to pay for their plans.

“It’s not simply hard-working mother and father who can pay the worth for Labour with £2,094 of additional taxes, it is also our youngsters who will likely be impacted by Labour’s politics of envy.

“The choice is clear: stick with the clear plan that is working, taking bold action to drive up school standards with Rishi Sunak. Or go back to square one with Keir Starmer and larger school class sizes, damaging children’s futures.”