It’s down to private schools to adapt to the change in VAT

Many of the assumptions made regarding the imposition of higher VAT tax on private schools are unlikely to ever happen.

Private schools are businesses in a competitive market. In order to stay in business, they will either have to absorb the extra cost, or pass it on in fees – just to remain viable. Any of these businesses that can not manage will disappear and others will fill the void. Demand will still be there.

We ought to remember that state schools have suffered 14 years of cutbacks in budgets and have had to cope. It is the private schools’ turn to adapt and survive.

Richard Ettey

Somerset

The failure of Keir Starmer to galvanise voters and even Labour Party members is disappointing but not surprising. His style might have suited the 1960s and 1970s, but in the modern mass media age, he fails to ignite enthusiasm.

In the remaining weeks of the election campaign, the Labour Party should give Angela Rayner a more prominent role. She seems to understand and relate to issues that concern most voters and communicates with passion.

John E Harrison

Lancashire

According to some headlines, Tory voters want Nigel Farage to succeed Rishi Sunak as leader. I can only assume that Tory voters hope (nay pray) that Farage will lead them to that far-off promised land: the sunlit uplands, a land of milk and honey.

It is the same future Boris Johnson failed so miserably to deliver, despite all his promises.

Just as our NHS has never even had a whiff of the “£350m-a-week” that was promised, I doubt any supporter of Farage will see his populist promises come to fruition.

Gunter Straub

London

Unfortunately, any promises that the prime minister makes have to be taken with a large pinch of salt, given how many Tory pledges have proved to be complete fabrications.

I believe that in this election campaign, I would find it difficult to point out any truthful statement from any Conservative, with the possible exception of Michael Heseltine’s assertion that “the party is fighting for its life”.

David Felton

Crewe

I am writing to detail what only be described as a political circus, complete with an unexpected cast of characters: our children, the prime minister and the incumbent MP.

Picture this: parents are told their children will be leaving school early, with the expectation of meeting a famous athlete who would discuss exciting career pathways in sport. Instead, the children are ambushed by Sunak and MP David Johnston, ready to play a game of political football—no puns intended! This surprise encounter was part of a re-election campaign, and parents had no idea their kids would be featured in it.

Parents, it seems, were asked for permission to let the children leave early and sacrifice valuable lesson time under false pretences. The real motive? To provide a photo op for the political bigwigs.

The cherry on top? The kids were regaled with anecdotes by Sunak, who apparently recommended Nando’s chicken served with a side of broccoli. How’s that for a balanced diet of political spin?

The resulting photo op has now graced newspapers up and down the country, showcasing our kids as participants in a political campaign. This misuse of our children’s time is outrageous. As a concerned parent, I would be furious if my children were used as pawns in a political game.

Our children deserve better than to be caught up in this political charade.

Anonymous parent

Wantage