Starmer may resign

I agree with you MollyNew. And, thank goodness, unlike Ms Badenoch, he refused to join Mr Trump's Epstein Deflection War.

Oops meant to put that on the other thread.

I can't bring myself to feel sorry for him as so much has gone wrong since he became PM.

Goodness knows what the future holds.

Cossy

Susieq62

Watching him resign with dignity this morning it made me realise what a kind, caring humble person he is! Plus he loves his family and his country deeply! He was totally vilified as soon as he entered number 10! Our nasty media went for him continuously and credit him for not giving in!
He has overseen
No fault evictions stopped
Deportations have risen
Immigration has fallen
Breakfast clubs for children
Triple lock saved
Etc

Ok he wasn’t charismatic or mind blowingly enthusiastic but he steadied the ship after 14 horrendous years! He kept Trump at bay and did not get into
war issues! Plus sorted out tariffs !
He won’t be remembered for much but I do respect him and hope he manages to use his legal attributes and expertise in the future!

I so agree.

I also agree with you Susieq62

Susieq62

Watching him resign with dignity this morning it made me realise what a kind, caring humble person he is! Plus he loves his family and his country deeply! He was totally vilified as soon as he entered number 10! Our nasty media went for him continuously and credit him for not giving in!
He has overseen
No fault evictions stopped
Deportations have risen
Immigration has fallen
Breakfast clubs for children
Triple lock saved
Etc

Ok he wasn’t charismatic or mind blowingly enthusiastic but he steadied the ship after 14 horrendous years! He kept Trump at bay and did not get into
war issues! Plus sorted out tariffs !
He won’t be remembered for much but I do respect him and hope he manages to use his legal attributes and expertise in the future!

I so agree.

You are probably an advocate of socialism - smash the bourgeoisie? But the ruling classes remain in tact? Just get rid of the middle class is it? LemonJam

ronib

It’s the sheer hypocrisy of Labour’s attitude to private education I’d like to abolish.
So many parents struggle and give up a lot to send their children to private schools and it makes no sense to have a government policy which makes it even harder to be educated … maybe out of one’s class if you like. So simply abolish the lot. Don’t worry the public schools all have contingency plans should this happen…..but at least it won’t be UK based.

I'm not sure how it can be deemed hypocritical of the LP to apply VAT to private school fees. It was all open, fair and square as included in their manifesto prior to the GE so I dont share your view.

I see it more hypocritical of private education establishments previously claiming themselves as a charity to previously avoid VAT payable on fees. Charities delivering charitable able acts do not usually are directed their charitable efforts towards elite members of society with more disposable income than the majority of the population.

Clearly private education is only open to those elite that have sizeable amounts of disposable income and can afford the fees- it's only for the privileged minority as a result. State education is provided for the majority of the population that are unable to afford the fees. That they have become more expensive as a result of putting right the charitable status loophole is sad and frustrating for those on the borderline of affordability but not hypocritical in any way. They now join the majority of the population that are unable to afford private school fees.

Try as I might- I cant find that unfair.

No MauvTaurus it is relevant. Private schools didn’t pay VAT. Now they do. The state schools which teach Sixth Form have always paid VAT

Actually big houses are definitely being abolished … it’s called redevelopment! GG13

It’s the sheer hypocrisy of Labour’s attitude to private education I’d like to abolish.
So many parents struggle and give up a lot to send their children to private schools and it makes no sense to have a government policy which makes it even harder to be educated … maybe out of one’s class if you like. So simply abolish the lot. Don’t worry the public schools all have contingency plans should this happen…..but at least it won’t be UK based.

ronib

Just abolish all private education surely?

While you are banning private education, go all out and ban private healthcare, Michelin star restaurants, high end cars, designer anything oh and don’t forget big houses…

Marjgran

MartavTaurus - you do know that all sixth form colleges pay VAT?

Thats a strange statement..
We are talking about the new imposition of an added 20% VAT on private education.

MartavTaurus - you do know that all sixth form colleges pay VAT?

Just abolish all private education surely?

Luckygirl3

It is entirely right and proper that all businesses should pay tax. Private schools are businesses. In Tudor times they may have been charities providing education where there was none. Things have moved on.

I have GC at both private and state secondary schools and, whilst I rejoice in the wonderful opportunities and advantages that the 2 in private education have, I am sickened by the contrast with the other GC and the paucity of opportunity that is theirs. It is utterly iniquitous.

Whether it is right or not is a different discussion.
I was talking about misinformation about the facts.
VAT is a tax on the consumer.

It is entirely right and proper that all businesses should pay tax. Private schools are businesses. In Tudor times they may have been charities providing education where there was none. Things have moved on.

I have GC at both private and state secondary schools and, whilst I rejoice in the wonderful opportunities and advantages that the 2 in private education have, I am sickened by the contrast with the other GC and the paucity of opportunity that is theirs. It is utterly iniquitous.

I just hope Phillipson, and Reeves go with him!

Luckygirl3

MartavTaurus

Luckygirl3

ronib

Stopped middle income families from accessing private education? No problem for the wealthy?

No .... he did what was long overdue and stopped the lie that private schools are charities and therefore not liable for VAT. Someone had to do it sometime ... it could not go on unchallenged.
I have nothing against private schools as such, but to pretend they are charities is simply wrong.
Members of my family have been affected by this. They recognise that it had to be done and have bitten the bullet and paid up.

There is NO link whatsoever between VAT and charitable status of independent schools. That's a complete misconception.

There is - 20% VAT is now applied to private schools because they now have the same status in that regard as all other businesses. Up to now they have been sheltered by charitable status. They are businesses pure and simple.

Here's how it works .......
As charities, the schools are exempt from paying corporation tax, and the 70% of independent schools that were previously registered charities are still very much registered charities. The reason they're entitled to Charitable Status is because education is deemed to be charitable under common law dating back to Tudor times.

It is not the schools paying the VAT anyway, it's the parents, and that now applies to all independent schools

Am very sorry that Starmer has gone. He has been the very best of the past six (is that right?) Prime Ministers we have had in recent years. He has ability and integrity. I do think that some people still believe in that AI-generated rubbish about the Russian arsonists, to judge from replies on social media. Isabel Oakeshott has not yet apologised for recent insinuations about that.

Private education should be abolished for everyone in a socialist country? Not just the aspiring impoverished middle classes?

The sight of Burnham taking a selfie with a load of Labour MPs is quite sickening. How can they rejoice in taking down a decent man?

I wonder if he will be smiling if/when he becomes PM and has defence baying for more money ....

MartavTaurus

Luckygirl3

ronib

Stopped middle income families from accessing private education? No problem for the wealthy?

No .... he did what was long overdue and stopped the lie that private schools are charities and therefore not liable for VAT. Someone had to do it sometime ... it could not go on unchallenged.
I have nothing against private schools as such, but to pretend they are charities is simply wrong.
Members of my family have been affected by this. They recognise that it had to be done and have bitten the bullet and paid up.

There is NO link whatsoever between VAT and charitable status of independent schools. That's a complete misconception.

There is - 20% VAT is now applied to private schools because they now have the same status in that regard as all other businesses. Up to now they have been sheltered by charitable status. They are businesses pure and simple.

And an EU summit planned for 22 July, at which Sir Keir had been due to unveil a series of agreements to "reset" the post-Brexit relationship with Europe, has already been postponed in the wake of Sir Keir's announcement. - and the rot sets in ......

Well said Susieq62

He’s quite open about it being effectively a coup though, I think his reactions and personality are completely different to Starmer’s, he’s more likely to actively defend his actions and give his perspective I suspect, he certainly did when he was a minister previously. Whether that will prove to be a good thing, time will tell.