Kemi Badenoch claims Labour's VAT tax raid on private school fees 'won't raise a penny' - and says the party's education policy is 'destructive'
- Kemi Badenoch criticized the Labour Party's VAT tax on private school fees, claiming it would not generate revenue and would harm educational quality by closing some private institutions.
- She accused Labour of allowing union interests to influence educational policy and undermining the concept of parental choice through the abolition of Ofsted ratings.
- Badenoch concluded that Labour's education policies would have destructive consequences for the future of the country.
On October 28, 2024, Kemi Badenoch, a prominent figure in the Conservative Party, launched a strong critique of the Labour Party's educational policies in an opinion piece for the Daily Mail. She focused particularly on Labour's implementation of VAT on private school fees, asserting that it would lead to closures of some private institutions and ultimately contribute to overcrowded classrooms in state schools. Badenoch emphasized that this policy represents an attack on aspiration and personal choice in education. Additionally, Badenoch highlighted concerns regarding Labour's collaboration with unions, alleging that this has resulted in detrimental changes to policies around educational performance assessments, notably the scrapping of Ofsted ratings. She argued that such decisions undermine accountability and personal responsibility in the education system, which is contrary to the principles upheld by Conservatives. In her article, Badenoch stated that Labour has engaged in what she termed 'the politics of envy,' which she believes does not align with fostering a constructive educational environment. By dismissing the Tories' new history curriculum, designed to promote national pride and a comprehensive understanding of history, the Labour Party, according to Badenoch, is prioritizing ideological beliefs over educational integrity. Overall, Badenoch contended that the Labour Party's approaches in their initial 100 days of governance threaten the future of education in the UK, potentially hindering children's learning opportunities and wider societal progress.