Nicole Fitzgerald

[Nicole Fitzgerald @NicoleAFitz]

@marksandspencer Thank you for the reply, unfortunately most of the styles do not have a half size as an option at all anymore

[Nicole Fitzgerald @NicoleAFitz]

@marksandspencer what is happening in stores to your footwear department? 3 stores Trafford/Market st/Handforth-Never any stock, limited sizing, fashion styles absent and the elimination of half sizing. So disappointing as wanted to try and buy the new range.

[Nicole Fitzgerald @NicoleAFitz]

Stop ageism in the recruitment process - Sign the Petition! https://t.co/tvuyvchEFk via @UKChange

[Nicole Fitzgerald @NicoleAFitz]

Stop ageism in the recruitment process - Sign the Petition! https://t.co/6gzSzpbt5f via @UKChange

[Nicole Fitzgerald @NicoleAFitz]

@vmbusinesshelp @vmbusiness what is happening with the WiFi issues in Manchester M1. Currently no internet? How are we meant to run a business? On hold for a 30mins now ! Please reply

[Nicole Fitzgerald @NicoleAFitz]

@virginmedia what is happening with the business WiFi in Manchester M1 ? No update, no WiFi ? Sat on hold for 20mins. How do I run the business ?

[Tim Burgess @Tim_Burgess]

Retweet for a chance to win a + 1 on my guest list for Friday’s sold out show with The Royal Northern College Of Music Orchestra

Got 4 places left so going to give them a pair each to two people.

I’ll let the winners know tonight at 10pm. Only retweet if you can go 😉

[Nicole Fitzgerald @NicoleAFitz]

@bphillipsonMP It’s not a tax break. It’s a merit good,like healthcare, that doesn’t charge VAT.
All other taxes are paid !

[Nicole Fitzgerald @NicoleAFitz]

@marksandspencer just bought your British slow cooked “The General”short rib of beef and there is no sachet of “Rich beef and truffle jus” included ?!?! So disappointing

[Nicole Fitzgerald @NicoleAFitz]

@GuyEmma68700 @bphillipsonMP @Keir_Starmer @RachelReevesMP @SamJRushworth @ISC_schools hope this helps your case

[Nicole Fitzgerald @NicoleAFitz]

@jrkdenison @EducationNotTax @glancaster2703 The best explanation I have read 🙌

[James Denison @jrkdenison]

That tweet reveals some serious misconceptions.

First, you have to distinguish between VAT paid by businesses and VAT charged by businesses.

Private schools used to pay VAT on their purchases (from stationery and books to new buildings) because, since their services were exempt from VAT, they weren't VAT registered. They were therefore paying a great deal of VAT.

Now, thanks to Labour, schools will register for VAT and will be able to reclaim VAT on their purchases, so they will effectively no longer be paying VAT. They will also be able to reclaim VAT going back 10 years on capital projects. This will favour the wealthiest schools (like Eton) more than the poorest schools, since it's the wealthiest that have been able to invest the most in such projects. This is expected to cost the state many millions of pounds. Eton alone is likely to reclaim £4.8m of VAT on this basis.

Private schools have not previously charged VAT on their services because those services were exempt, just like other educational institutions that are not captured by Labour's policy. This is the 20% that is to be added to school fees, paid by the families of the pupils, and handed over to the state via the schools. This is the real focus of the debate, because it affects the affordability of private education and it will force many families to move their children into state schools.

Now, you say that "all businesses" have to deal with this issue, but that simply isn't true.

Is Tesco a business? Yes, obviously. Does it charge its customers VAT on groceries? No. Why? Because groceries (by and large) are exempt from VAT. Why? Because we need food to survive so we (as a society) want it to be as affordable as possible.

Education has been exempt from VAT because it is a merit good. You said that you understood that, so you should understand why (as with groceries) we want it to be as affordable as possible, but the key point is that an educated society is a more productive society and we need to be as productive as possible. That really ought to be the end of the debate, but you've also raised the issue of choice, so let's deal with that as well.

All being well, private education is a choice because we do have a state education system that by and large is very effective. However, it is right that people should have a choice about how to educate their children within the law, because we are all free individuals, not vassals of the state. Also, families who are able to afford private education for the sake of smaller classes, better facilities, broader curriculum etc should not be prevented from choosing to spend their taxed income on schooling rather than anything else because 1) education is a merit good and more effective education enhances its positive impact; and 2) by paying privately they are saving the state (and the taxpayer) about £4b each year.

However, the reality is that things are not always well and some children have additional requirements. Dealing with SEND is expensive and the state does not always provide adequate support, even though you might argue that it should and I would agree with you. Parents who pay for private schooling for SEND kids are not making a choice in the usual sense, because the pressure on them to find the money for the fees to help their children is unusually high.

So, I hope you can now see clearly why private education is a special service that ought to be exempt from VAT, although (again) when you said that you understood that education was a merit good, you really were accepting the special nature of education with regard to taxation without the need for further analysis.

If you disagree with any of this, I'd be fascinated to know why.

[Nicole Fitzgerald @NicoleAFitz]

@micmarierose @KirstieMAllsopp It’s not a tax break, private schools pay tax on everything else !!! No other country charges VAT on education ……. Will Universities be next and also private nurseries as they don’t have VAT on fees ?????

[Nicole Fitzgerald @NicoleAFitz]

@British_Airways here we go again! Still no correspondence from a compensation claim submitted at the beginning of August. Tried speaking to someone in the executive club for the 7th time to be told they had emailed me (they hadn’t).Clearly don’t want to pay up DISGUSTING

[HarryE @HarrietEth78235]

@StephenMorganMP @bphillipsonMP A tax break is a change in law that results in the opportunity to pay less in taxes ( Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary)
You are not removing a tax break as education has never been taxed before! You are creating a new Children’s Education Tax.
Shame on you.

[Nicole Fitzgerald @NicoleAFitz]

@bphillipsonMP Isn’t it illegal under EU law to charge VAT on education ???

[Nicole Fitzgerald @NicoleAFitz]

@_megsconnolly Just AMAZING 🤩

[Nicole Fitzgerald @NicoleAFitz]

@British_Airways Your customer relations team have been no help at all

[Nicole Fitzgerald @NicoleAFitz]

@British_Airways would be nice for someone to contact me regarding a compensation claim I submitted for a delayed flight. You appear to have “resolved”it and yet I have received no correspondence or explanation as to what has happened. Another terrible customer experience

[Nicole Fitzgerald @NicoleAFitz]

@British_Airways your compensation claim system is not fit for purpose. No contact from your team numerous phone calls and claim is resolved without my knowledge !
And I’m meant to be an Executive club valued customer ! Joke

[Nicole Fitzgerald @NicoleAFitz]

@British_Airways Another example of your appalling customer service. Delayed in bound flight and missed connecting flight resulting in an 11 hour delay. Compensation claim made via BA website. No email correspondence and now told case is resolved ! No it isn’t !