Burnham's left-wing Net Zero secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh accused of 'classic champagne socialism' after it emerges she sends ALL of her children to private school

By GABRIEL MILLARD-CLOTHIER, POLITICAL REPORTER Published: 22:04, 8 August 2026 | Updated: 22:23, 8 August 2026 New Energy Secretary and Labour Left-winger Miatta Fahnbulleh was accused of 'classic champagne socialism' after The Mail on Sunday discovered all three of her children are privately educated. This is despite Ms Fahnbulleh championing Labour's decision to slap VAT on public school fees - a policy blamed for making private education unaffordable for thousands of other parents. Peckham MP Ms Fahnbulleh, 46, a rising star on the party's Left who was made Energy Secretary in Andy Burnham's first Cabinet, on Saturday admitted she sends her children to private school when presented with the MoS' findings. However, she declined to give any details of how much she spends on their education. Sources estimated that Ms Fahnbulleh, whose husband is a successful City trader and hedge-fund founder, must spend at least £50,000 a year for the privilege. Within striking distance of the couple's £1.3million home in south-east London are some of the best private schools in the country, including £27,000-a-year Colfe's School, which boasts a swimming pool, two gyms and a theatre; and £30,000-a-year St Dunstan's where pupils can enjoy 23 acres of playing fields. Critics pointed out that in 2024, Ms Fahnbulleh hailed the new Labour Government's decision to remove the exemption of VAT from private school fees despite warnings it would force some smaller schools to close. Now it emerges 30,000 children have been forced from their independent schools since the policy's introduction - double the Government's estimate. Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake accused Ms Fahnbulleh of 'classic champagne socialism'. Miatta  Fahnbulleh (pictured with Andy Burnham) championed Labour's decision to slap VAT on public school fees despite sending her children to private school Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake (pictured) accused Ms Fahnbulleh of 'classic champagne socialism' He said: 'Parents who are now unable to afford to send their kids to private school will no doubt feel aggrieved over this hypocrisy.' Ms Fahnbulleh was educated at Beechwood Sacred Heart school in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, where boarders pay £45,000 a year. But as the MoS revealed last month, she was among a group of Labour MPs who made no mention of their independent schooling in their 'Who's Who' entries. Critics of the VAT on private school fees policy say the tax hike simply forced independent schools to increase their fees, pricing out the middle classes and leaving them as the preserves of the very wealthy.