Christian families launch legal action against government’s private school VAT raid
Share:
Headteachers say VAT raid on private schools is ‘existential threat’ that is already pushing families away. Christian families have launched legal action against the government’s VAT raid on private schools, arguing religious schools and pupils are being discriminated against.
Parents and four schools, supported by the Christian Legal Centre, have filed a High Court judicial review claim against the government’s policy, which removed the VAT exemption on private school fees. The 13 claimants are seeking a declaration that the government’s changes were unlawful and incompatible with their human rights.
Lawyers will argue the measure has disproportionately impacted parents who want their children to be educated in Christian schools. One parent bringing the claim, bookseller Stephen White, 40, said he had chosen to live in a specific area of Bradford so he could afford to send his four children to Branch Christian School, which is nearby.
Mr White, whose 14-year-old son Josiah is also a claimant in the case, said: “As Christians, we believe that it is our duty as parents to raise our children in line with our beliefs. This policy denies us this right and choice and must be challenged.”.
He said Labour’s policy had created a “caricature of wealthy schools full of wealthy parents”, which is “not the reality”. Another family, who are part of the legal claim but did not want to be identified, are looking after two children who were previously in care.