Taxpayer support packages have put a burden on the public finances and the full economic damage of lockdown measures will not be clear for months. But none thing we do know is the UK finds its public finances in dire straits. Do we have to accept tax rises post-covid, or does the government need to be bold and ditch the big state economic agenda? Join us for this thought-provoking panel discussion with some of the best thinkers on this critical issue facing the country.
From Sunday 4th to Tuesday 6th October, the TaxPayers’ Alliance and the Institute of Economic Affairs hosted the 7th annual ThinkTent, which brought together politicians, journalists, academics, and business leaders to discuss some of the key issues facing the country. Due to coronavirus restrictions, the political party conference season moved online this year, so we live streamed all our events on YouTube.
Speakers:
Andy Silvester (Chair) | Deputy Editor of City A.M.
Steve Baker MP | Member of Parliament for Wycombe
Steve was elected to represent Wycombe in 2010. He won Politician of the Year 2019/20 in the Civility In Politics Awards and ConservativeHome Backbencher of the Year 2019. Steve became a Brexit minister after re-founding the European Research Group, but later resigned after Chequers. He is now back on the Treasury Committee and 1922 Executive, enjoying being a Parliamentarian first, campaigning for social progress through honest money, free trade and peace.
Mark Littlewood | Director General of the Institute of Economic Affairs
Mark is Director General of the Institute of Economic Affairs and the IEA’s Ralph Harris Fellow. Mark is recognised as a powerful, engaging and articulate spokesman for free markets. He also features as a regular guest on flagship political programmes such as BBC Question Time, Newsnight, Sky News and the Today Programme. He writes a regular column for The Times and features in many other print and broadcast media. Mark also sits on the Board of Big Brother Watch, a non-profit organisation fighting for the protection of privacy and civil liberties in the UK.
Matthew Lynn | Financial Columnist at the Daily Telegraph
Matthew is Financial Columnist at The Daily Telegraph, as well as writing for WSJ Marketwatch, The Spectator and Money Week. Matthew is also the founder of Endeavour Press, the UK’s leading e-book publisher.
John O’Connell | Chief Executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance
John joined the TPA as an intern in 2009. As a researcher, and later Research Director, he wrote major reports for the TPA on quangos, government capital procurement, regional business policy and local government pensions. John frequently represents the TPA on television and radio, including prominent appearances on flagship broadcast programmes and documentaries.