Exclusive: Scottish private schools seek Labour talks over VAT fears

Dear Voornaam,

What has been one of the strangest election campaigns is at last coming to an end.

Launched by a drenched Rishi Sunak on the steps of Downing Street, a campaign dogged by gaffes and scandal has barely had any impact on the polls. Sir Keir Starmer is all but certain to be walking into Number 10 on Friday as Labour maintain their huge lead and the Conservatives are left in full damage-limitation mode.

The agenda will then very quickly move to the first days of a Labour government and one of the huge issues is certain to be the decision to impose VAT on private school fees.

Our education reporter Calum Ross has been speaking to some of the leading schools in Edinburgh about the prospect, and his report is here

He reveals schools are seeking urgent talks with senior UK Labour figures amid growing fears the move will hit hardest north of the Border.

The sector is worried parents in Scotland were more likely to be left with no choice but to withdraw their children from private schools as a result of the policy because income levels are lower than in parts of England.

In sport, Wimbledon gets under way today but we are still waiting to find out if Sir Andy Murray will make his swansong in the singles. The two-time former champion will leave it until the very last minute to decide whether to play tomorrow.

I hope you enjoy today’s edition.

Alan