The TaxPayers' Alliance reveals today that despite the government's repeated pledge of a "bonfire of quangos", over 3,000 positions were filled on the boards of quangos in 2014-15. Quangos retain significant responsibility over areas of policy with the sum of their budgets stretching into tens of billions of pounds of... Read more...
The TaxPayers' Alliance today renews its call for the Government to abandon its proposed Sugar Tax as new research reveals that it is entirely arbitrary and has little to do with the sugar content of the products it affects. The TPA carried out a comparison of 49 drinks in three... Read more...
Commenting on the revelation that the BMA was seeking to maximise disruption, and put money before patient safety, Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "Patients will be appalled to discover that far from being concerned for their safety, the BMA has been playing a 'political game' to... Read more...
Commenting on the calls for the Cabinet Secretary to remove material from government websites skewing the EU debate once the purdah period kicks in, Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "It’s bad enough that the Government has already spent more than £9 million of taxpayers’ money on... Read more...
Responding to the Queen's Speech, Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "This is a hotch-potch of measures announced at a time when ministers are clearly distracted by the impending EU referendum. Some of the new legislation is worthy and sensible, but the Government has yet again missed... Read more...
The TaxPayers’ Alliance is today calling on the Government to learn the lessons of past defence procurement decisions if the costs of the expected renewal of Trident are not to spiral out of control. On the publication of a report detailing a plethora of previous errors, the TPA warns that... Read more...
The TaxPayers' Alliance, Britain's independent campaign for reforming taxes, cutting spending and protecting taxpayers, will be available for broadcast interviews both previewing and reacting to the Queen's Speech taking place on Wednesday. The TaxPayers' Alliance hopes that the Government will spend the coming year concentrating its efforts on reducing the... Read more...
Responding to the Government's White Paper on BBC Charter Review published today, Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “It is regrettable that the Government has ducked the opportunity for substantial reform of the regressive and arcane TV licence fee. It remains a throwback to an era when there was a... Read more...
Commenting on the jailing today of former MEP Peter Skinner, Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Taxpayers will be pleased to see justice done as someone who stole vast amounts of their money is sent to jail. Skinner’s case highlights the shameful lack of accountability and transparency... Read more...
Responding to news that the Government has this afternoon announced its intention not now to include the scrapping of “check-off” for the collection of membership dues in the Trade Union Bill, Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “It is deeply disappointing that the Government has backed down... Read more...
Responding to news that the Government will spend £9.3 million promoting its position on the EU referendum, Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "This is a disgraceful abuse of taxpayers' money. When cash is scarce and budgets are tight, politicians should not be wasting nearly £10 million... Read more...
With Tata Steel putting its Port Talbot steelworks up for sale and saying the value of its UK steel operations are “almost zero”, there are implications for taxpayers which our briefing note addresses. The Steel Crisis Explained covers the following: Why is the UK industry failing? What’s going on in... Read more...
As Council Tax rises take effect across the country today, families face an average tax hike of £46 a year. Research from the TaxPayers' Alliance shows that that Council Tax has been an increasing burden on families for decades. Between 1996-97 and 2010-11, 152 local authorities increased Council Tax every... Read more...
Responding to news that Public Health England is proposing to halve the recommended daily intake of dairy products, Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "When will these diktats from the High Priests of the Nanny State in the public health lobby ever end? Fresh from pushing for the... Read more...
Responding to the announcement that MPs will be asked to vote on a Budget tomorrow with £4bn missing as a result of the U-turn on cuts to Personal Independence Payments, Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "It is extraordinary that MPs are being asked to vote on... Read more...
Responding to the Budget statement given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "The Chancellor yet again delivered a mixed bag of measures which will do very little to address the state of the public finances. While taxpayers will welcome tax cuts... Read more...
Reacting to the Scottish government's confirmation that it intends to reduce Air Passenger Duty by 50%,Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "Air Passenger Duty is just another way for the taxman to squeeze the extra bit more from hard pressed families planning a well-earned holiday. The rates... Read more...
As the Chancellor prepares to deliver his Budget on Wednesday, the TaxPayers' Alliance has called for spending reductions to repair the public finances and ease the burden on hard-pressed families. Despite tough talk on spending by politicians, the truth is that it hasn't come down quickly enough. Spending projections set... Read more...
New research by the TaxPayers' Alliance reveals that £699 million has been paid out to local councillors in allowances over the last three years. In an era of increasing pressure on local authority resources, it is essential that every penny is spent wisely and above inflation rises in payments to... Read more...
Reacting to news that Facebook has rearranged its tax structure, Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "The fact that Facebook has taken a voluntary decision to change its structure so it pays more Corporation Tax just goes to show how absurd the system has become. The outdated... Read more...
New research published today by the TaxPayers' Alliance reveals that hospital trusts rated 'Inadequate' spent nearly £1 million on Clinical Excellence Awards for staff in 2014. Even more baffling for taxpayers footing the bills is the revelation that even more of these pay awards for excellence are being handed out... Read more...
As speculation continues about the contents of the Chancellor's Budget on 16th March, the TaxPayers' Alliance is reiterating calls for him to increase the state pension age and cut taxes. Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: On the state pension age: "The state pension age went unchanged... Read more...
Reacting to the announcement by Cabinet Minister Matt Hancock that there will be no legal changes to the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act, Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "It is heartening that the government has reiterated its pledge to encourage transparency in the public sector and... Read more...
Reacting to the Chancellor's announcement at the G20 meeting in Shanghai that further spending reductions may feature in March's budget, Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "We have known for a while that further spending reductions were going to be essential in order to put the public... Read more...