The education of the miltary's own children is now under threat (2024)

From Cyprus to Somalia, South Sudan to the Falklands, British military personnel are deployed 24/7 around the world to safeguard our national interests.

They prioritise our security over their comfort. The most mobile and active Armed Forces families move home every two years on average to meet operational requirements.

These soldiers, sailors and airmen are at the edge. They fight bloodthirsty terrorists, intercept international organised criminals and protect the UK's streets by projecting our might around the world – before those problems end up on our shores.

So you would assume they would be at the top of the list for support from the incoming Labour government.

But, thanks to Keir Starmer's divisive plan to tax private schools, the education of their own children is now under threat.

More than 4,000 military children receive support for their private education to be part-funded by the state, delivered via the Continuity of Education Allowance.

This vital scheme allows some soldiers and diplomats to send their children to boarding school while they are deployed on crucial duties – but within tight rules that ensure the support only goes to those who need it most.

And while the majority of us did not go to private school, there is a very obvious argument that these military families should be helped with the option to send their children there to reduce the pressure on family life, enabling them to continue to serve their country.

I have asked repeatedly, but the Government is refusing to confirm whether these families will be hit by their 20 per cent VAT hike on fees. When I quizzed ministers over the summer recess with a parliamentary written question, they provided no clarity on the situation.

I have since written to the Treasury, which is charged with designing this tax – and I have not yet received a response.

Today I will use a debate in the House of Lords to call on the Government once again to exempt military families from its plan to tax private education.

Clobbering Britain's bravest families with a levy like this is morally objectionable to those of us who care about the welfare of our Armed Forces.

But I was even more alarmed to discover that nearly 70 per cent of Army families surveyed said that if there is no exemption or financial mitigation to cover the full costs of the VAT increase, they could be forced to consider leaving the Army.

Does Sir Keir really want that – just as the world becomes demonstrably more unsafe, with wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East?

I'm worried the Prime Minister's education tax could soon impact our national security. This is a classic example of the ill-thought-out consequences of divisive politics. It is an example of the worst kind of Labour grandstanding – class warfare that the UK should have dumped decades ago.

This is 2024, not 1974, and we should be focused on growing our economy and selling private education as one of the UK's most impressive global exports rather than running ourselves down.

But this Government probably won't see that. So I simply ask that ministers confirm as soon as possible that military families will be exempt from the VAT hike.

If ministers refuse to exempt our Armed Forces heroes, they must provide a rebate or other mitigation so that these families are not forced to consider their position in the services.

It is a supreme irony that Keir Starmer – the man who benefited from a free private education himself thanks to state support – wants to punish the children of our bravest warriors simply because their parents do their utmost to keep our country safe.

Lord Kempsell is the former political director of the Conservative Party and a member of the House of Lords.

Labour