Robert Jenrick wants service personnel to be spared VAT on their children's school fees (Image: PA)
TORY leadership candidate Robert Jenrick made a final hour plea for the Treasury to spare forces families VAT on school fees.
He denounced the plans to slap the tax on school fees as “the pure politics of envy” and said that “Labour’s class war against private schools will do nothing to improve the state sector”.
The former immigration minister warned it is the “families of our brave military personnel serving abroad who will be most affected”.
Warning of the consequences for the armed forces if they cannot afford boarding school fees, he said: “For many it allows them to serve abroad, but with a 20 per cent VAT levy this will become unaffordable for an estimated 70 per cent of army personnel. Labour should rethink their whole move, and at the very least example military families.
“Anything less would be a betrayal of our brave service personnel.”
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The Army Families Federation has warned that nearly seven out of 10 “Army families who shared evidence with us stated that if there is no exemption or financial mitigation to cover the full costs of the VAT increase, they will now consider leaving the Army”.
Members of the armed forces can apply for the “continuity of education allowance” to help with fees to ensure a child’s education is not disrupted by having to move schools. The allowance was claimed by 2,678 service personnel who claimed for 4,021 children in the 2023-24 academic year.
A Treasury spokeswoman said: “We want to ensure all children have the best chance in life to succeed. Ending tax breaks on private schools will help to raise the revenue needed to fund our education priorities for next year.”
The Government does not expect “significant numbers” of pupils to move to the state sector during the academic year. It argues the number of children in independent schools has remained steady despite an approximately 75 per cent real terms increase in average fees since 2000.
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Mr Jenrick’s push for service families to be spared the VAT hike comes as the Conservative leadership race enters its final days.
He told the Sunday Express: “The choice at this election is clear. I have listened to the public and have a plan for changing our party, not the promise of one down the line.
“We have no time to waste - council elections are around the corner and we must show the country we are once again a serious party. Across the country, I keep hearing members want to end the drama, get serious on the big issues and unite the party.
“That’s exactly what I intend to deliver. Under my leadership, the Conservative party will once again be in the service of the public, and with our members being properly respected and empowered to determine candidate selections.”