Starmer has insisted, high-mindedly, that Sunak's wealth is irrelevant to their political battle. He defended the prime minister's resort to a private GP on the grounds that many people go private for operations. Yet he spearheaded his main attack at PMQs this week with a sly dig at the expensive and elite private school which the prime minister attended and to which he has made a personal donation of £100,000.
"Whenever the Leader of the Opposition attacks me about where I went to school, he is attacking the aspiration of millions of hard-working people in this country. He is attacking people like my parents. This is the country that believes in opportunity, not resentment. He does not understand that, and that is why he is not fit to lead the country."Starmer's concentration on this topic was a significant development.
Whatever its merits,"politics of envy", or being seen to oppose social aspiration, has seldom played well for Labour. If it worked Margaret"Let some grow taller" Thatcher would never have been prime minister for 11 years.
There is little evidence of widespread antipathy towards private schools. Only 10% were for keeping the tax exemptions in the YouGov poll. A further 24% thought private schools could keep them if they did more for state schools. Some 19% didn't know.
adamboultonTABB I've heard Mr Boulton and his children were educated in public schools? It's good that Mr Boulton mentioned this in his article as that could lead to a conflict of interest. I would be afraid for his integrity if he left an important detail like that out of his published document
anandMenon1 adamboultonTABB Honestly it’s very simple. An educational system that provides success based on money not ability is indefensible.
adamboultonTABB Pro-private school article.
adamboultonTABB Check the polling - not so much controversy really.
adamboultonTABB
adamboultonTABB WHY SHOULDNT THEY PAY TAX THE SUPER RICH
adamboultonTABB Not a Starmer fan, but he isn't being sly, he is being quite open and clear. Stop underfunding state schools in favour of the top 9%
adamboultonTABB Quelle surprise! Privately educated journalist attacks Labour over their stance on private schools..
adamboultonTABB It the way some of these schools are funded ? As charity’s when in fact there business? Are these schools that are masquerade as charity’s claiming tax relief on fees etc etc ?
adamboultonTABB No ambivalence. If you're underfunding state schools but supplementing public schools so they have even more money, then the tax and funding system needs to change.
adamboultonTABB Usually people who are jealous. My daughter went to a crap state school but got top a level results in the country. I don’t care who sends their kids to private school doesn’t affect me. Move on Karen
adamboultonTABB How is it sly? …That’s not a word you should be using
Adam Boulton went to one of the UK's most expensive schools. He isn't an unbiased commentator on this and Sky should make that clear.
Why did Sky ask a former employee to pen this op-ed - and then pretend that it was news? 🤷♂️ Are all the members of the politics desk on holiday? Can anyone now express personal views on this platform and be described as a *commentator*?
Keir_Starmer what you need to realise is teachers are so bad in some state schools and ridiculous things taught on timetables that we need some private schools for the best and talented kids.Classic example Diane Abbott who sent her son to private school but advocated for state
Tory boy Adam Boulton showing his true colours.
Funny how the usual suspects haven't been lining up to tell people to forgo their daily Latte and to stop eating avocado isn't it?
“The only thing” Really?! I mean there’s journalistic opinion and then…
Only 10% of the public want to keep private school exemptions - roughly the %age who send their kids private. Looks like a great policy.
'Sly dig'? If you want to send your kids to private school, then pay for them! Taxpayers should NOT be funding them! And don't start 'I'll pay £40.000, but I can't pay VAT' rubbish.
So in exchange for implementing a popular policy, the votes of a tiny percentage of the population already disinclined to vote Labour, might go even further against him. What an error!
ToriesDestroyingOurCountry .