Private schools, smoking and HS2: Key points from Rachel Reeves' speech at Labour conference
09.10.2023 - 13:35
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Labour will end the loophole which exempts private schools from paying some taxes if elected next year, the shadow chancellor has said. Rachel Reeves used what is likely to be her final Labour Party conference speech before the general election to confirm speculation that private schools would be forced to pay VAT and business rates.
That will be done shortly after the election, the MP for Leeds West added. “In my first budget as Chancellor of the Exchequer, I will end the tax loophole which exempts private schools from paying VAT and business rates,” she said.
“We will put that money into helping the 93 per cent of our children who are in our state schools. I tell you, if Rishi Sunak wants a fight on this — if the party that has herded our children into portacabins while our schools roofs crumbled wants a fight on who has the most aspiration for our children — I say: bring it on.”
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In other key points from her speech, the shadow chancellor also said:
Focusing on economic growth for much of her speech, Ms Reeves promised to create green jobs across the country. She also said that Labour would 'take on the antiquated planning system' and 'back the builders, not the blockers'.
This would allow 'critical infrastructure' such as transport, housing and factories to be built more easily, she argued. And she said that areas which host these schemes should benefit by, for example, getting cheaper energy bills.
Ms Reeves also announced that Labour would raise stamp duty for overseas buyers to prevent properties being bought up and left