Keir Starmer vows to tax private school fees 'straight away' if Labour wins the ... trends now
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Sir Keir Starmer yesterday said he would tax private school fees 'straight away' if he wins the election – risking class war.
The Labour leader doubled down on his plans to add VAT to independent school fees despite fears of an exodus of pupils into the state sector.
Asked if the plan would be implemented on 'day one', he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: 'As soon as it can be done. Obviously, there will have to be financial statements etc. It is a question of the timetable in Parliament. But these first steps are intended to be done straight away.'
Labour has made introducing VAT on private school fees a flagship policy, claiming it would generate £1.7billion to spend on state education. Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves said at last year's party conference in Liverpool that she would implement the policy in her first budget.
