INDEPENDENT MP for Islington North Jeremy Corbyn came under fire as he missed a vote on the new Labour government’s plan to place VAT on private schools.

Mr Corbyn has been previously outspoken about his desire to scrap tax subsidies for private education, but he was absent from the chamber last week when a Conservative motion, which opposed Labour’s plans, was voted on.

Meanwhile, the four other MPs who form part of Mr Corbyn’s new “Independent Alliance” in the Commons backed the Tory motion, despite some having been elected on left-wing tickets.

The motion was rejected and a spokesperson for Mr Corbyn told the Tribune that he would back the Labour legislation when the time came.

The spokesperson said: “Jeremy missed the [opposition day] vote for personal reasons.

“He will be voting to scrap VAT exemption for private schools, when it is introduced as legislation in parliament, in line with his longstanding beliefs on this policy.”