Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh has publicly defended her decision to send her children to private school while supporting a government policy that removes a VAT exemption on independent school fees. The Peckham MP said the measure — which will make independent education more expensive for some families — was nonetheless the correct fiscal choice for a government managing constrained public finances.
Minister links personal choice to wider policy
On the Newsagents podcast, Ms Fahnbulleh set out two linked positions: that parents should be free to opt for independent schools for legitimate reasons, and that the state should not subsidise those choices through tax measures. She said parents choose independent schools for a variety of reasons, including school quality, special educational needs and focus on sport or the arts.
“If the question you're asking me is do I believe that parents should have a choice to send their kids to independent school? I do.”
She added that those parental choices did not preclude her from serving in the Labour team. The minister also acknowledged that the removal of the VAT exemption had caused difficulties for some families, but maintained the broader policy rationale as budgets tighten.
Background and political context
Ms Fahnbulleh is the Member of Parliament for Peckham and serves as Energy Secretary in the current government. She is a former chief executive of the New Economics Foundation; media reports also state she was appointed Net Zero Secretary in Andy Burnham’s government. Reports name her husband as being involved in the City, described as a trader and founder of a hedge fund.
The controversy arises because the policy the minister supports directly affects the cost of the private education she has chosen for her children. Critics argue that ministers advocating tax changes that affect services they personally use face questions about consistency, fairness and political optics. Ms Fahnbulleh countered that parents making such decisions do so for varied, often legitimate reasons, and that the state should not cross-subsidise those private choices.
- Ms Fahnbulleh defended parental choice while endorsing removal of the VAT exemption.
- She acknowledged the policy had placed strains on some families but said it was fiscally necessary.
- The minister has a background in the New Economics Foundation and represents Peckham in Parliament.
Responses and consequences
Labour ministers often face heightened scrutiny over personal choices that intersect with public policy. The debate over the VAT exemption has drawn attention because it directly alters the affordability of independent schooling for some households. Ms Fahnbulleh characterised the discussion around the exemption as "really bizarre" and insisted the government would not cross-subsidise parents choosing independent schools.
She framed her task as improving state provision so that the public system can serve all children, saying her priority remained strengthening state education. That line underscores a common political balancing act: defending personal autonomy while advancing policies aimed at reallocating public resources.
| Fact | Source detail |
|---|---|
| Current role | Energy Secretary; Peckham MP (reported) |
| Previous role | Former chief executive, New Economics Foundation |
| Personal | Has three children in private school; husband reported as City trader and hedge-fund founder |
The minister’s remarks will be picked over by political opponents and commentators. For ministers, reconciling private decisions with public policy remains politically sensitive. Ms Fahnbulleh’s intervention attempts to separate private family choice from collective fiscal judgment, while signalling a continued commitment to improving state education.
Labour officials and the wider party will monitor the public reaction, as questions over fairness and policy coherence can shape debate ahead of future spending decisions and education reforms.
