For immediate release Responding to reports that Rachel Reeves could be forced to announce further tax rises in the Autumn, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“Taxpayers will be rightly nervous at the news that they could be facing further tax rises in the Autumn.“The chancellor is reaping... Read more...
Embargoed: 22:30 Tuesday 4th February 2025 Over one in ten councils in the UK, 42, are considering reducing one or more bin collection services. Three councils (Bristol, Carmarthenshire, East Ayrshire) are considering changing residual waste collection to once every four weeks. Four councils (North Ayrshire, Dundee, Angus, East Ayrshire)... Read more...
Embargoed: 00:01, Tuesday 4th February 2025 Responding to an embargoed briefing of NAO head’s annual speech in parliament tomorrow, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“The National Audit Office is an increasing rarity now in the public sector, given its relentless focus on the core issues actually impacting... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the local government finance settlement, Elliot Keck, head of campaigns of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“Taxpayers will be expecting to see immediate results from the inflation-busting tax hikes that they’re being subjected to, particularly given the increase in government funding above and beyond this rate rise.“Every... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to Reeves's speech on growth, Darwin Friend, Head of Research at the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“It’s of course right that we allow growth-enhancing infrastructure to be built, but taxpayers will be rightly sceptical of yet another politician making grand promises with re-heated plans.“Even if these projects can... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to reports that streaming service users will have to pay the licence fee, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“Forcing streaming service users to cough up the licence fee would truly be one of the most bonkers ideas ever concocted.“Far from modernising the BBC’s... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the launch of South Cambridgeshire District Council’s four-day week consultation, Elliot Keck, head of campaigns of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“Local taxpayers will be chomping at the bit to give their views on the disastrous four-day week experiment.“For years their imperious council bosses have used... Read more...
Embargoed: 22:30, Thursday 23rd January 2025 Majority (55 per cent) of the British public support cutting or abolishing inheritance tax, according to polling for the TaxPayers’ Alliance by Public First. British people name Inheritance Tax the “least fair” tax by a huge margin, with Reform UK’s Deputy Leader calling it... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to borrowing hitting a four-year high, Darwin Friend, head of research of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“The latest borrowing figures put paid to the ludicrous claim that the new government is fixing the foundations.“The toxic cocktail of tax rises and spending increases that Reeves forced on the... Read more...
Embargoed: 22:30, Monday 20th January 2024 TaxPayers’ Alliance launches digital and grassroots campaign against the proposed 25 per cent council tax rise in Windsor and Maidenhead TPA analysis finds that Windsor and Maidenhead is in the top 20, or top third, of unitary authorities in terms of average council... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to Angela Rayner’s speech on devolution and local government reforms, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“Taxpayers will keep an open mind towards Angela Rayner’s proposed reforms and plans to devolve powers away from Whitehall.“But there will be concerns about a one-size fits all... Read more...
For immediate release A proposed council tax rise of 25 per cent would be the largest for two decades in England if it is approved by ministers, according to analysis of council tax data by the TaxPayers’ Alliance.The inflation-busting hike, which has been requested by Windsor and Maidenhead council, would... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to Sir Keir Starmer’s plan for change speech, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“The prime minister’s muddle of metaphors can’t hide the fact that this is little more than a reheated version of previous speeches.“Keir Starmer has correctly identified some of the core... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the Scottish budget, Darwin Friend, head of research of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“Taxpayers across Scotland will warmly welcome the lifting of tax thresholds, even if this won’t benefit all Scots.“But with this budget also including a dazzling array of spending pledges, there will rightly... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to Rachel Reeves refusing to rule out further tax rises in Treasury questions this afternoon, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said:"Taxpayers will be genuinely fearing a spring tax raid in the new year given the comments by the chancellor."Labour have clearly abandoned... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the release of whole of government accounts for 2022-23, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“This latest set of accounts will make for as grim reading for British taxpayers as it has done for the National Audit Office.“The fact that the public watchdog... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the chancellor speaking at the Confederation of British Industry’s annual conference, John O’Connell chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:"The frosty reception that the chancellor faced should make it clear to her that business owners aren't buying her bluster about black holes and fiscal responsibility.“While... Read more...
For immediate release The TaxPayers’ Alliance campaign group have today revealed more than £500 million in foreign aid grants for international farmers. As first revealed in a front page story in the Daily Express, £536.4 million is being spent on ten active funding programmes focused on supporting farmers and farming... Read more...
For immediate release TaxPayers’ Alliance campaigners have protested outside the UK Covid inquiry in Paddington, London, after new research from the campaign group revealed that the inquiry could end up costing £208 million by the time it concludes.Members of the TPA held up a banner reading “£208 MILLION: IS IT... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to Angela Rayner’s refusal to rule out further inheritance tax hikes at Prime Minister’s Questions, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“Rayner’s refusal to rule out a further cash grab will send shivers down the spine of every taxpayer hoping to pass on a... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to today’s GDP figures from the Office for National Statistics, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“Taxpayers will be disheartened to see the economy heading in the wrong direction.“With sluggish growth and economic stagnation hitting most industries, Brits need reassurance that this is simply... Read more...
For immediate release TaxPayers’ Alliance reveals the pay of the chief executives at the ten worst performing trusts by waiting times. Interim chief executive of Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust, Samantha Prince received a salary of £142,500 and total remuneration of £147,500 in 2023-24. The trust has the worst... Read more...
For immediate release There will be a £30 billion hit to GDP as a result of Rachel Reeves’ first budget as Labour chancellor, with wages set to be £337 lower and growth down by 0.1 percentage points after ten years, according to modelling by the TaxPayers’ AllianceAs a result of... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to Rachel Reeves’ first budget as chancellor of the exchequer, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said:"We were consistently told that there was no need for big tax hikes because of a focus on growth, so taxpayers will be disgusted by the whoops and... Read more...