Single mother sues Treasury over ‘discriminatory’ VAT raids on private schools

A single mother has become the latest to take legal action against the government’s VAT raid on private schools.

The woman represented by Sinclair Law argues that the tax change will “disproportionately impact” single mothers, who are less likely to afford the fee increase.

The parent, who remains anonymous in legal documents, has two children with serious educational needs who receive taxpayer-funded support through education, health and care plans.

She also has a third child who has no special educational needs and attends private school.

Lawyers argue the daughter’s school offers her a refuge from a traumatic past family life with her father and a “respite” from her current family responsibilities, which include caring for her two siblings.

The girl currently receives a £3,000 scholarship at her £14,000-a-year private school, which has announced it is set to increase tuition fees by 20 per cent as part of Labour’s VAT raid.

The parent claims this will result in monthly fees increasing by £280 from January, making her daughter’s school unaffordable.

The mother also claims her ex-husband is now on benefits because he has given up work and is not paying child support, making it “impossible” for her to cover the increased costs on her own.