Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh has defended her decision to send her three children to fee-paying schools, asserting that the choice does not diminish her commitment to the Labour party.
Fahnbulleh, a close ally of Mr. Burnham and a prominent figure on the party's left, stated on The News Agents podcast that parents should have the freedom to choose independent schools for various reasons, including quality of education, specific educational needs, or specialized programs in sports and arts. She believes this personal choice is compatible with being a member of the Labour party.
Her defense comes as the Labour government implements a policy to apply Value Added Tax (VAT) to private school fees for the first time. Critics argue this policy makes private education unaffordable for many parents. Fahnbulleh described the debate surrounding the VAT policy as "bizarre," asserting that the government should not subsidize parents who opt for private schooling.
"Of course the government is not going to cross subsidise parents sending their children to independent schools," Fahnbulleh said. "I know that the VAT exemption has been difficult for some parents. But I still believe that at a time when budgets are really tight it is the right thing for the state to decide that we're not going to cross-subsidise parents that do make that choice to send their children to independent schools and we're going to put that money into the state sector where the majority of kids go."
Fahnbulleh has not publicly disclosed the specific schools her children attend or the cost of their education. However, sources estimate the annual expenditure to be at least £50,000. Her family resides in southeast London, with several well-regarded private schools in proximity, including Colfe's School, which charges approximately £27,000 per year, and St. Dunstan's, with fees around £30,000 annually. Fahnbulleh herself was educated at Beechwood Sacred Heart in Tunbridge Wells, where boarding fees are around £45,000 per year.
The minister emphasized that her position is that the government's priority should be allocating resources to the state sector, which serves the majority of children, especially during times of fiscal constraint. She maintains this is the correct policy decision in the public interest.