Private schools face a £150million rise in business rates under Labour’s plans to strip them of their charitable status.
In a tax double whammy, Sir Keir Starmer wants to scrap the 80 per cent relief independent schools receive on business rates – as well as charging them VAT.
Labour says it wants to use the money to fund better state education but the party was accused last night of launching a ‘vengeful attack’ that would ultimately burden the state with more costs.
Analysis by the Private Education Policy Forum (PEPF), published earlier this year, suggests that charitable private schools across England and Wales benefit by £144million a year because of the business rates relief.
