Barnet Jewish councillor forced to resign due to government’s VAT school tax policy

An orthodox Jewish councillor in Barnet has resigned from his seat after the Jewish school he leads was forced to enter the state system due to the government’s VAT charge on school fees.

Joshua Conway, a Conservative councillor in Hendon as well as the headteacher of the local Nancy Reuben primary school, has told constituents in his ward that “because of an outdated law, headteachers of state schools are disqualified from serving as local councillors. This means I will no longer be able to serve Hendon ward as your councillor.”

The school, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, announced in July that it would be applying to enter the state system, after the government announced the introduction of VAT for independent school fees, adding a 20 percent charge onto the previous price. At the time, Sharon Kelaty-Timsit, the chair of governors for the school, said the move to become state-aided was “100 percent” due to the government’s move.

However, the move means that Conway, who became headteacher of the school in early 2023, having previously served as the school’s head of Jewish studies, faced the choice of either stepping down as head of the school or as a local councillor.

In a statement released over the weekend, Conway said: “I am deeply saddened. I love serving both my school and my community. It feels wrong to be forced to choose, when both roles only strengthen one another. This wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for the Labour government’s envy tax on independent schools.

“This isn’t just me – it’s about fairness, democracy and common sense. Should we really be banning educational leaders from public life, while also wasting £50k on an unnecessary election?”

Conway’s resignation means that a by-election for the council seat will now have to be held – despite local elections for all London council seats being due to take place in just seven months’ time.

Conservative Councillor Alex Prager, Conway’s ward colleague, praised the departing councillor for having “served our community with dedication and integrity saying it was “disgraceful that bureaucratic technicalities — driven by disastrous national policy — have robbed Hendon of a passionate and hardworking representative.”

Prager, a fellow Jewish Barnet councillor, went on to say: “Let’s be clear: this situation should never have happened. The blame lies squarely with the Labour Government, whose damaging VAT policy and soaring business rates have pushed many independent schools to breaking point.

“Barnet Council can’t afford this by-election. Hendon residents don’t want it or need it. But an uncosted and irrational Labour policy has led to this.”

In a statement published on Friday, Barnet council said: “Following the disqualification of Joshua Conway, a by-election will be held for one councillor in the Hendon ward. The date of the election will be confirmed early next week when a ‘Notice of Election’ is published on the Council’s website.

“Cllr Joshua Conway was disqualified because of a change of status in his employment. By law, a person is disqualified from being a member of a local authority if they are employed in a school that is maintained by the local authority.”