PMQs: Keir Starmer calls on Rishi Sunak to end 'scandal' of private school tax breaks

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to end the "scandal" of tax breaks for private schools.

Private schools can claim charitable status so are eligible for tax relief.

During Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir highlighted the Mr Sunak's old school, Winchester College, and asked why it received "taxpayers' money".

But Mr Sunak accused the Labour leader of "attacking the hard-working aspiration of millions of people".

Most private schools have charitable status, which means they are exempt from paying VAT on school fees.

In England and Wales, private schools with charitable status also get at least 80% relief on business rates.

However, in Scotland this discount was removed in April.

Sir Keir clashed with Mr Sunak over the issue during PMQs and took aim at Mr Sunak's old independent school.

"Winchester College has a rowing club, a rifle club, an extensive art collection, they charge over £45,000 a year in fees," he said.

"Why did [the prime minister] hand them nearly £6m of taxpayers' money this year in what his Levelling Up Secretary [Michael Gove] calls egregious state support?"

Mr Sunak responded: "Whenever he attacks me about where I went to school, he is attacking the hard-working aspiration of millions of people in this country, he's attacking people like my parents.

"This is a country that believes in opportunity not resentment. He doesn't understand that and that's why he's not fit to lead."

In a 2017 column for the Times, Mr Gove asked how tax breaks for private schools were "justified", describing this as "egregious state support".