Military families could be exempted from plans to whack 20 per cent VAT tax on private schools, minister hints

MILITARY families could be exempted from the private school tax, Defence Secretary John Healey has signalled.

The Labour government is bringing in a 20 per cent VAT charge on independent school fees.

But it has sparked fury from thousands of families in the army, navy and RAF who say they have to send their kids to private school because they could be posted abroad at very short notice.

Visiting Army HQ on Thursday morning, the Defence Secretary was challenged about the proposed hike by military staff.

Speaking to The Sun on Sunday, Mr Healey said he is “looking hard” at the issue and recognises “how important it is to Forces families.

He said: “On the support for school education, I know how important it is, I know the impact it may have.

“So I'm looking hard at it, and the army is assessing it at the moment.”

Asked if he thinks he will “win the row” with Chancellor Rachel Reeves over the cash, he insisted it is “not an argument”.

He added: “This is a question of recognising how important it is to Forces’ families.

“It is taking seriously the importance and the potential impact of the VAT and making sure that we, across the range, do better to keep the best of those who serve in our forces and do better across the range to recruit those who can serve in our forces.”

Critics have accused Labour of waging “class war” with the tax hike.

Military families have launched legal action against the plan.