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Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh defends sending her three children to private school despite backing VAT raid on fees

Miatta Fahnbulleh, whose three children attend private schools costing an estimated £50,000 a year, has championed Labour's removal of the VAT exemption on private school fees.
Miatta Fahnbulleh, whose three children attend private schools costing an estimated £50,000 a year, has championed Labour's removal of the VAT exemption on private school fees.

Fahnbulleh, 46, was a vocal supporter of imposing VAT on private school fees — a move that critics argue has put independent education out of reach for thousands of families — yet she reportedly spends at least £50,000 a year on schooling for her three children. The Peckham MP dismissed the controversy as 'bizarre' and maintained that parents are fully entitled to choose fee-paying schools. Her husband is a City trader and hedge-fund founder, and the family lives in a £1.3 million home in south-east London.

Fahnbulleh said choosing private school does not preclude anyone from 'being part of the Labour team or the Labour family.'

She has refused to say which schools her children attend or disclose how much she pays in fees.

Other Labour MPs including Diane Abbott have faced similar criticism for using the independent sector they publicly taxed.

MoreEvening StandardLabour Cabinet minister Miatta Fahnbulleh defends sending children to private school
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