Miatta Fahnbulleh, the UK's Energy Secretary and a prominent figure on the Labour Left, has been accused of "classic champagne socialism" after it was revealed that all three of her children attend private school. This revelation comes despite her support for a Labour government policy that removed VAT exemptions from private school fees, a move critics argue has made private education unaffordable for many.
Fahnbulleh, 46, who was appointed Energy Secretary in Andy Burnham's first Cabinet, confirmed that her children are privately educated when confronted with findings from The Mail on Sunday. She did not provide details on the cost of their education. Sources estimate the annual expenditure for her children's schooling could exceed £50,000, considering the family's £1.3 million home in south-east London and the proximity to high-fee institutions like Colfe's School (£27,000 annually) and St Dunstan's (£30,000 annually).
Critics, including Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake, have voiced strong disapproval. Hollinrake stated that parents struggling to afford private school fees will likely feel "aggrieved over this hypocrisy." The policy Fahnbulleh championed in 2024 aimed to tax private schools, and warnings at the time suggested it could lead to smaller institutions closing and increased fees.
Reports indicate that approximately 30,000 children have left independent schools since the policy's implementation, a figure double the government's initial estimate. Critics argue that the tax increase has disproportionately impacted middle-class families, making private schools accessible primarily to the very wealthy.
Fahnbulleh herself was educated at Beechwood Sacred Heart, a boarding school where fees are reported to be £45,000 per year. It was also noted that Fahnbulleh was among a group of Labour MPs who omitted details of their independent schooling from their 'Who's Who' entries in the past.
Miatta Fahnbulleh, pictured with Andy Burnham, championed Labour's decision to slap VAT on public school fees - despite sending all three of her own children to private school.