Iain Dale hosted a panel and phone-in on LBC yesterday featuring general secretary of the NEU Daniel Kebede, deputy editor of Conservative Home Henry Hill, former education secretary Baroness Nicky Morgan and former Green Party leader Natalie Bennett, who discussed whether Labour's VAT plans are "sustainable". In response to a question from a caller who asked about the impact Labour's tax plans could have on the cross-sector charitable activity taking place, and the likelihood of school closures in the independent sector, Mr Hill said he believes the tax policy is "misguided" and that it would increase pressure on the state sector. Outlining her views, Baroness Morgan warned: "I don't think there is any way, certainly in parts of the country, that the state system will be able to cope with the children who will not be going to independent schools and will be accessing the state system." She added: "I think it is a policy that doesn't add up." Listen from 1:36:25.

BBC News speaks to families in Worcester who are concerned about Labour's tax plans for independent schools. One mother named Jo, who works for the NHS, says she feels the policy is unfair, adding "this policy removes my choice to [send my child to an independent school] because it will be unsustainable to keep my daughter there". As part of its 'Your Voice, Your Vote' series, which has been looking at key manifesto pledges in the run-up to the General Election, the BBC also filmed a hustings event at The King's School during which Worcester's parliamentary candidates were quizzed on whether independent school fees should be subject to VAT. The article includes a summary of the main parties' positions on this issue. By James Pearson.

iNews interviews a mother who outlines her concerns over the Labour Party's tax policy. Acknowledging that her family is "extremely fortunate" to have the choice of an independent education, she says: "I don’t know how we’re going to manage next year’s fees – let alone what will happen if Labour win the election and they go up even further. We’ve talked about paying them all up front again to avoid the VAT hike, but that means getting more and more in debt." By Georgina Fuller.

Writing in the Evening Standard, columnist Jack Kessler explores the Labour Party's pledge to add VAT to independent school fees, arguing it "may cost as well as win it seats". 

At a meeting with victims of knife crime in London yesterday, Sir Keir Starmer pledged to take action on the issue by Christmas. The Labour leader has previously said his party would halve knife crime within a decade, in addition to holding an annual national summit to hold law enforcement and technology companies to account. By Daniel Martin, The Telegraph.

The UK is at a "tipping point" due to low uptake of routine vaccinations, which is putting children at risk of severe diseases, health officials have warned. Recent figures from the UK Health Security Agency have revealed a slight increase in some vaccinations, including a 0.3 per cent rise in pre-school booster jabs for children under five, though targets are still not being met. BBC News.

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