A group of Christian schools are set to sue the government to challenge their imposition of a VAT raid.
Emmanuel School in Derby, the Branch Christian School in Dewsbury, Yorkshire, and the King’s School in Hampshire said that they had jointly instructed lawyers to inform ministers that they would launch a judicial review if the draft legislation were not dropped.
In a letter to the Treasury that was circulated to MPs, the claimants said that the introduction of VAT on school fees would breach human rights law.
They argued the proposed tax would unlawfully discriminate against them because it is likely to force Christian schools to close.
Emmanuel School in Derby is one of the schools that has expressed their concerns
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It comes after education unions joined forces with some private schools to urge the Chancellor Rachel Reeves, to delay the planned imposition of the tax in January. However, earlier this week, ministers vowed to push ahead with their plans according to the previously stated timetable.
Headteacher at the King’s School Caroline Santer told The Times that the Government’s plans were "ill thought out" and that ministers did "not appear to realise, or care, about the impact they will have on the UK’s education system".
Stephen White, a parent named in the legal letter to the Treasury, said that "as Christians, we believe that it is our duty as parents to raise our children in line with our beliefs." He added that that involved “giving them a positively Christian education and not a secular education."
GB News has approached the Treasury for a comment.
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Rachel Reeves is pushing ahead with the controversial proposal
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It comes after an opposition whip has warned a viral tweet by the Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson "propagates a class war."
Luke Evans was one of several Conservative MPs who suggested Bridget Phillipson should apologise for her post on social media during a Commons debate about VAT on independent school fees.
Around 5.8 million social media users have viewed the Cabinet minister’s post, made on Saturday, which read: “Our state schools need teachers more than private schools need embossed stationery. Our children need mental health support more than private schools need new pools. Our students need careers advice more than private schools need AstroTurf pitches."
The MP for Hinckley and Bosworth said told the Commons: "This reeks of prejudice and propagates a class war and I’m sorry to say that (Ms Phillipson) isn’t here to defend that. Because I hope, actually, she’s a decent woman and I’d like to expect that this is something that she would apologise for."
Conservative shadow Treasury minister and Droitwich and Evesham MP Nigel Huddleston added: "I’m also glad to see the Secretary of State for Education who is now in her place after being conspicuously absent. And perhaps she will take the opportunity to apologise for the tweet.
"Parents who send their children to independent schools, who pay twice on their children’s education, deserve better than to be treated with contempt by their Government’s Education Secretary.
"The divisive tweet put out by the Education Secretary this weekend was shockingly ill-judged and ill-informed, sneering and smirking about embossed paper and swimming pools.
"Does the Secretary of State really not understand or recognise that not every independent school is like Eton or Harrow?"
