Privately-run schools are companies, not charities. Why are we letting them keep our tax money?
Why are we still pretending that private schools are charities? [Image: Alamy]
The tax money that would otherwise be used to provide the services ordinary people need – an up-to-date, efficient National Health Service, cheap accommodation, social care – is instead given away to the already-rich.
A fine example is the series of tax breaks provided to privately-owned schools – profit-driven companies that pretend to be charities.
They should have lost any tax privileges under a Labour government, but have been allowed to get away with the lie until now.
How long will the privileged be allowed to line their pockets while the poor are told there is no money available?
In Britain today there are hundreds of private clubs. They are often blessed with manicured lawns, sumptuous historic buildings and state-of-the-art sports and entertainment facilities for the enjoyment of members. Many offer expensive activities such as golf, shooting and horse-riding.
And who benefits from these impressively well-appointed institutions? “The very wealthiest families in the world,” concedes a manager of one.
And yet these private clubs are designated as charities and benefit from significant tax breaks. They pay little VAT on some of the services they buy, and no corporation tax on their financial surpluses. They can also slash their business property rates bill by up to 80 per cent.
If these institutions paid tax in the manner of other private firms the Treasury’s coffers would be swelled by an estimated £100m a year. Add in the business rates exemption and the annual tax break is closer in value to £250m.
And yet the crusaders against charity excess from the fourth estate have been strangely silent on this scandal. Perhaps it’s because these institutions in question are known as “independent schools”.
And unlike the right-wing media’s usual targets, these charities do not provide help to the poor and afflicted but instead service the offspring of the world’s global elite.
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
The Livingstone Presumption is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
Leicestershire partnership NHS trust is a private run company. The lowest performance in the UK. Yet had Anthony sheeHan who worked in conservative government as CEO. Anthony also devised the mental health stuff for government. He has also put in a request to Google to be forgot.
I’ve never understood why these places should be classed as charities (other than the fact it is yet another State subsidy for the wealthy), nor why they are referred to as “public schools”, when clearly they are private institutions with access to only the privileged few.
Nothing new there….the Elite benefitting from having their favourite watering holes subsidised by the plebs and keeping their membership better than reasonable. Yup all needs flushing and sorting out having taking the system for a ride for to long.
“Don’t let schooling interfere with your education.” ― Mark Twain
And by this definition they are also excluded from the business rate rises if they have solar panels on their roof.