One of the most significant changes to child poverty imaginable comes into force today, with over 450k children lifted out of poverty, in a move that will be welcomed across society and all sectors.
www.itv.com/news/2026-04...
New ink 🎨
The most tremendous lunch. The Sherlock Holmes menu at Six by Nico 🕵️♂️
I guess you’re old enough to know… certain songs get so scratched into our souls
Some Saturday evening listening 😎
youtu.be/Ko3axaI__0M?...
Incredibly strong and evidenced article from MCR Pathways on delivery of the Promise here.
Including this from board member Susanne Richards: “We are halfway through The Promise, but nowhere near halfway through its delivery.”
mcrpathways.org/news/the-pro...
Put a tenner on 0-0 at Pittodrie today. My thought was the storm like weather and two struggling teams would produce a borefest.
Eight goals and two red cards later shows how much I know about football…
"If the state is to invest in the education of all children, then asking the families who purchase a premium tier of schooling to contribute a little more is not radical. It is common sense."
Will this be the defining legacy of the VAT policy?
Thank you for sharing and engaging with the post really appreciated!
Heartbreakingly sad findings
‘Nearly a third of kids can't use books when starting school - and try to swipe them like phones’
news.sky.com/story/nearly...
Merry Christmas Everyone 🎄
Early Christmas celebration in our wee house today, and an excellent Christmas dinner if I say so myself 🎄
A fantastically fun evening at Parkhill Secondary’s Christmas show: Toy Story the musical 🎄
Policy Analysis: Why VAT on private school fees will raise more than planned, and why it matters
barryblack.substack.com/p/policy-ana...
Some policy analysis about VAT on private school fees, why it is set to raise more than originally forecast, and why this matters.
Please read, share, and subscribe for more!
open.substack.com/pub/barrybla...
Thought this was a very interesting piece from Barry. I wasn't aware that the OBR had revised the revenue from VAT on private school fees up. I have had people tell me "this is the politics of envy" and that I was wrong to think private schools are businesses, so good to see this policy analysis.
Thanks Kate, an interesting part of the budget lost in the wider debate of it all - not least the process!
Some policy analysis about VAT on private school fees, why it is set to raise more than originally forecast, and why this matters.
Please read, share, and subscribe for more!
open.substack.com/pub/barrybla...
www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/...
I was among the first to call for this. January 4th 2021. My call was rubbished and told there were no plans. A few months later it was Government policy.
The reform hasn’t taken the shape I or many others wanted, but hopefully a page has been turned
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
As I, and others, predicted there has not been an exodus of pupils from private schools due to VAT on fees, partly because the price point is not a factor in accessing private education.
The policy is set to raise *more* than originally forecast.
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
Very much looking forward to the Kilbrandon Lecture by @carlenefirmin.bsky.social in the resplendent Barony Hall this evening
As I, and others, predicted there has not been an exodus of pupils from private schools due to VAT on fees, partly because the price point is not a factor in accessing private education.
The policy is set to raise *more* than originally forecast.
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
I have always thought that the value of a Covid inquiry would have been setting out a future framework for how the prioritisation of rights work in an emergency. So many rights violated (many of that necessary which is my point) with so little reflection or those decisions.
Two years ago (time flies!) I wrote about why Labour need to scrap the two child benefit cap - for many reasons - including if we as a society want to meaningfully reduce education inequalities.
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
Two years ago (time flies!) I wrote about why Labour need to scrap the two child benefit cap - for many reasons - including if we as a society want to meaningfully reduce education inequalities.
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
Saturday night kitchen 🐟
‘I had never supported Universal Free School Meals. Then I looked at the evidence.’
barryblack.substack.com/p/i-had-neve...
Totally agree! I was at primary sqchool in the early 2000s, and they used to come round and sell dinner tickets in the morning, with different coloured tickets for free school meals. Of course didn’t think much of it at the time but it is Jaw dropping looking back.
‘I had never supported Universal Free School Meals. Then I looked at the evidence.’
barryblack.substack.com/p/i-had-neve...
