Blake Stephenson, the MP for Mid Bedfordshire, has criticised the Labour Government's decision to charge VAT on education saying it will 'reduce the quality of education for all'.
The local MP was speaking during a Westminster Hall debate ahead of the 20% VAT rate being added to private school fees from 1 January 2025.
Speaking after the debate, Blake Stephenson MP said: "The Education Secretary has talked about creating opportunities for all children, but where the Conservative Government sought to level up opportunity, it is clear that this Labour Government wants to level it down.
"If you are a child in a state school, you’ll get a worse education because your class size will be larger. If you are a parent looking at state schools, you’ll have fewer options for your child – potentially meaning a longer morning commute to school and a worse education for them.
"And if you have scrimped and saved and sacrificed to make ends meet whilst sending your child to private school, this decision to impose VAT on school fees puts that dream out of reach for all but the richest families. Private school for the few, a worse education for the many."
