Members of a campaign group opposed to plans to apply a value-added tax to private school tuition fees have targeted Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson with personal abuse, imitating Nazi Germany’s tactics and attacking her. He accused her of labeling him a “despicable old hag.”
A heated debate has raged over the government’s proposed policy as opponents say the addition of 20% VAT in January will increase class sizes in state schools as some parents will be unable to pay tuition fees. It’s happening.
But a series of messages on a private Facebook group run by campaign group Education, Not Taxation: Parents Against Tuition Fees VAT (ENT), seen by the Observer, expressed a personal attack on Mr Phillipson. Some even called for people to picket one of her constituency’s events. .
Private schools such as Harrow will be subject to VAT on tuition fees from January under Labour’s policy. Photo: wronaphoto.com/Alamy
The most extreme messages compared the value-added tax policy to the persecution that occurred in Nazi Germany. One message read: “Germany in the 1930s targeted the Jewish minority on the basis of their perceived privilege. Bridget Phillipson. Half a million children attending private schools. But who cares? Firstly, they’re only 7%, and secondly, they’re not Keir Starmer’s children.”
In response, another member responded, “Well said.” Another person intervened and added: “No one is ‘chasing’ the top 7% of kids (and of course not in quite the same way as you are implying).”
Another message read: “Nazi Germany again?”
Phillipson has also been described as a “terrible woman,” “a mean queen,” “an absolute bitch,” and “scum.” Plans were discussed to gather “with signs” outside a constituency event, with one member saying: “I hope some people will come and tell her ‘what’ they’re giving her both barrels for. “I’m doing it,” he said. Another said: [Phillipson] rot. ”
Group organizers said they tried their best to moderate comments, but as a voluntary organization this was not always possible.
However, the comments highlighted by Observer have now been deleted. A post has already been set up warning members not to publish posts that are degrading.
“The highlighted posts do not reflect the overwhelming majority of the discussion on our Facebook page,” Ravna Tandon, a spokeswoman for the group, said in a statement. “We’re focusing on the real harm it’s causing.” “We regularly remind our more than 23,000 members to be respectful in their posts.
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“While we do our best to moderate the over 1,400 comments we receive each day, it is difficult without a dedicated staff. We do not condone the language in these posts and we We strive to manage content in accordance with our values.
“We are also deeply concerned by the divisive stance taken by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and the Labor Government, which ‘others’ independent schoolchildren, fuels abuse and creates a toxic environment. .
“We urge the Government to stop this harmful rhetoric and meet with the parents who will be affected by the proposed policy.Despite several requests, we still urge the Education Secretary I have not been able to secure a meeting with him.”
Some users in the group have documented the steps required to pay the increased fees. One person said: “I have canceled my National Trust membership with the RSPB,” another said they have stopped work on the kitchen, and a third said: “I have canceled the construction of a new driveway.”
Ministers say the money raised from the VAT hike will go towards hiring 6,500 new teachers, increasing mental health support for children and supporting breakfast clubs in all primary schools.
Opponents of the policy argue that the plan is hasty and that it will result in an influx of enrollment into state schools, which will also affect children with special educational needs and disabilities, as well as military families and children from small religious groups. He warns that he will receive.
The Independent Schools Council (ISC) has distanced itself from abusive comments, citing the campaign group in some of its social media posts.
“ISC has no official involvement with otolaryngology,” the commission said. “We do not tolerate offensive or abusive remarks. They have no place in this discussion. We completely condemn the offensive language used in the comments highlighted by Observer.
“Not only are these posts offensive, they distract from the very real and legitimate concerns parents have about their children’s educational future.
“We will continue to raise these concerns in our work to urge the government to delay the introduction of VAT on fees and reduce the impact on schools and families.”
