GB News host Bev Turner and Daily Mirror associate editor Kevin Maguire were embroiled in a lively clash over Labour’s reported ‘tax raid’ plans.
Sir Keir Starmer’s party is planning a tax raid on private schools that would force nearly half of fee-paying pupils into the state system, according to a new report.
Despite this, Maguire has little sympathy for those who he says are “well-off”, questioning why they should get an “exemption” from VAT.
Bev rallied against the argument, saying the raid is “punishing children” during the frosty debate.
Bev and Kevin Maguire locked horns on GB News
GB NEWS
“Private schools are not very good and poor value for money”, he said.
“If you want to pay for private education, that’s your choice, but I don’t see why you should get a tax perk for it.
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“It’s not a charity, private education is what you do for yourself, charity is what you do for other people and that’s why I’m more concerned about the 93 per cent of children in state schools.
“An average of £8,000 a year is spent on their education. I want extra teachers to raise education for a majority rather than get my hanky out and weep for a very small minority who are privileged.”
Bev argued that Maguire “doesn’t care” about children in the private school system.
“You seem to care about them more than the other 93 per cent”, Maguire hit back.
Keir Starmer is reportedly planning a private school tax raid
PA
Kevin Maguire joined Bev Turner and Andrew Pierce on GB News
GB NEWS
“Absolutely not, as a state educated person, what I care about is all children getting a great education and choice. You won’t have schools to employ these extra teachers”, Bev responded.
“You’re taking away parental choice. What I don’t understand about the left is, you will be leaving private schools to the super rich.”
Maguire refuted the claim to say: “What I understand about the right is, it defends privileges for itself under the cloak of selflessness.”
“It smacks of jealousy, Kevin. I love the state system, but I also want people to have a choice”, said Bev.
Starmer has refused to back down on his pledge to charge 20 per cent VAT on independent school fees in the event of Labour winning the General Election.
According to a new survey of parents with children at private schools, as many as 224,000 pupils could leave as a result.
Labour have been keen to allay concerns surrounding the policy, with Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves saying private schools must make cuts to cope.
She told the Daily Telegraph: “I’m sure that private schools can make efficiencies in the same way that state schools have been making efficiencies this last decade or so.”