Military families could be exempted from plans to whack 20 per cent VAT tax on private schools, minister hints

MILITARY families could beryllium exempted from the private school tax, Defence Secretary John Healey has signalled.

The Labour authorities is bringing successful a 20 per cent VAT complaint on independent school fees.

But it has sparked fury from thousands of families successful the army, navy and RAF who accidental they person to nonstop their kids to private school because they could beryllium posted overseas astatine precise abbreviated notice.

Visiting Army HQ connected Thursday morning, the Defence Secretary was challenged astir the projected hike by subject staff.

Speaking to The Sun connected Sunday, Mr Healey said helium is “looking hard” astatine the contented and recognises “how important it is to Forces families.

He said: “On the enactment for school education, I cognize however important it is, I cognize the interaction it whitethorn have.

“So I'm looking hard astatine it, and the service is assessing it astatine the moment.”

Asked if helium thinks helium volition “win the row” with Chancellor Rachel Reeves implicit the cash, helium insisted it is “not an argument”.

He added: “This is simply a question of recognising however important it is to Forces’ families.

“It is taking earnestly the value and the imaginable interaction of the VAT and making definite that we, crossed the range, bash amended to support the champion of those who service successful our forces and bash amended crossed the scope to enlistee those who tin service successful our forces.”

Critics person accused Labour of waging “class war” with the taxation hike.

Military families person launched ineligible enactment against the plan.