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“Last night, Emma Boon of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: ‘Some taxpayers might find it unfair that whilst they struggle to make their money go further or accept a pay freeze those on benefits are getting an increase.
‘What’s really needed is a simpler, fairer benefits system so that the very poorest in society, pensioners and those with disabilities get the support they need, but cheats and the workshy can’t exploit the system.”
Birmingham Post: Birmingham City Council first UK authority to take equity stake in private company
“The move has been welcomed by business leaders as a means of stimulating desperately-needed investment into Midland SMEs but the Taxpayers’ Alliance has argued it is not for councils to decide where such funding goes.”
Evening Gazette: Opposition mounted to Redcar and Cleveland council tax increase
“The Taxpayers’ Alliance and the Liberal Democrats will be collecting signatures on a petition calling for a council tax freeze at 1pm near the town clock in Redcar high street on Saturday.
“Andrew Allison, at the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: “The Government’s offer of a grant – equivalent to a 2.5% rise – is there to offer the council a cushion whilst it finds further efficiency savings. The majority of councils are either freezing or lowering bills.”
The Citizen: Police spend £880,000 on translators in five years
Robert Oxley, campaign manager of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Reducing the cost of interpreters is a practical way for courts and police forces to make savings.
“There will always be a limited need for translation services when foreign nationals use the justice system but the taxpayer has a right to expect someone living in Britain to learn to speak English.”
Express: A £2Bn loss, yet the state-owned RBS is paying £800M bonuses
Last night, John O’Connell, research director of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Taxpayers are still far away from getting their money back from the bail-out, so they’ll wonder whether the value they have got as majority shareholders of RBS justifies this massive bonus pot.
“It’s crucial that the state-owned banks are returned to private hands as soon as is practically possible to remove the burden of propping up the bank from taxpayers.”
Herts and Essex Observer: Council tax frozen by Herts and Essex authorities
But while the council is celebrating its budgetary hat-trick, independent watchdog the Taxpayers’ Alliance has slammed it over the amount it is spending for its chief executive to take early retirement. When Caroline Tapster steps down from her £251,190-a-year job at the end of May, her pension will cost HCC £355,000 in the following five years.
Express: More overseas handouts! We give £220M to ‘World’s terror capital’
Express: More overseas handouts! We give £220M to ‘World’s terror capital’
Emma Boon of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “It is crucial that taxpayers’ money isn’t lost to corruption in this highly volatile area.”
