A dad who won a landmark legal battle on term-time holidays is appealing for financial support from individuals in the trade to fight a government-backed appeal.
Jon Platt won his case in May, when the High Court ruled he did not have to pay a £120 fine to the Isle of Wight Council because his daughter attended school ‘regularly’.
Since then, the council, backed by the Department for Education, has filed an application for permission to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.
Platt, a dad of three, has until the end of September to respond, and has set up a JustGiving page to raise £30,000 to cover legal costs.
If he loses the case, he could face costs of up to £100,000.
He has contacted Tui and Virgin Holidays to publicise his case, but admitted: “I don’t want to be seen as a puppet of the industry; people may be able to donate as individuals.”
Jon Platt makes bold claims that the industry could be one of the “biggest losers financially” if the government wins, by making unauthorised school absence a criminal offence. He believes this “draconian measure” would lead to a dramatic drop in term-time family breaks.
Platt, who does not believe the industry is profiteering from holiday prices, added: “The travel industry is walking into a potential nightmare. There is a very real threat to jobs in the industry if all that demand is removed in term time. There will not be the capacity [to meet demand] in the school holidays.”
An Abta spokeswoman said Abta was in “active” contact with government to lobby for school holidays to be staggered by region.