SNP leadership hopeful Humza Yousaf has said he has “concerns” about private schools being classed as charities.
The Health Secretary also said he would send his daughter to a state school as he does not believe in private education for his own kids.
Charitable status provides a suite of tax benefits which campaigners believe should be axed.
Yousaf, who attended a private school in Glasgow, told the Record: “I’ve got some concerns around that. I want to engage with the sector, if I could, to understand what it is that they’re doing in relation to widening their access.
"What are they doing in relation to bursaries or assistant places? But I’d be keen to have that conversation with the sector.”
His youngest daughter is in nursery and he was asked if she would go to a state school: “That’s what I would do. I went to a private school and I’m not going to say anything negative about my parents. It was their choice, of course, to do that. But I don’t believe in sending my children to private school.”
He added: “I do believe in the exceptional quality of our education system. Why would I want to send my children anywhere else?”
His plan contrasts with leadership rival Ash Regan, who sent her children to a private school.
She said: “I made the decision about my family circumstances before I got into politics.
“I am a mother first and a politician second, and I expect everybody to respect that as I would respect their choices for their families.”
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who Yousaf would go head-to-head with at Holyrood if he wins, also sends his children to a private school.
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