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...
Reacting to the news that EU referendum campaign has finally begun, Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Now that the starting gun has been fired, politicians and bureaucrats both in Westminster and Brussels must not be allowed to use taxpayers’ cash to skew the debate one way... Read more...
Slamming renewed calls for the hugely regressive sugar tax which would hit the poorest hardest, Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "It is incredible that the health lobby is continuing to push this deeply regressive tax which will only add to hard-pressed families' bills. A sugar tax would hit those... Read more...
Ahead of next month's Budget, the TaxPayers' Alliance is today calling on George Osborne to rule out a single rate of tax relief on pension contributions. The Chancellor is strongly rumoured to be considering imposing a flat rate of tax relief on pension contributions at 30 per cent, but a... Read more...
Responding to the government's plans to ban charities using taxpayers' money to lobby ministers Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "It simply cannot be right that taxpayers' money is spent to lobby the Government without those paying for it having any say or even knowledge of which... Read more...
The TaxPayers' Alliance will be campaigning on Parliament Street between 12pm and 5pm on Thursday 11th February 2016. The eye-catching stall will be manned by TaxPayers' Alliance staff and local activists, handing out leaflets and asking local residents to join the TaxPayers' Alliance 80,000-strong activist base. Please see the notes... Read more...
Responding to the Audit Office report that the Welsh Government paid over the odds for Cardiff Airport, Lee Canning, Wales co-ordinator for the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: Welsh taxpayers will struggle to understand why such a large amount of their money has been wasted so needlessly. When some Assembly Members are... Read more...
Reacting to the news of Google's £130 million deal with HMRC, Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "Yet again we have a case that demonstrates why we need radical simplification of our hugely complex tax system. People are fed up of politicians pontificating about how much tax... Read more...
New research from the TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) reveals that over £100 million has been paid out in compensation claims against local authorities across the Great Britain over the last two years. These figures suggest that some local authorities are failing to adequately deliver services - such as pothole repair and... Read more...
A new briefing note from the TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) shows that the evidence for a sugar tax is weak, at best. David Cameron's spokesman has said that “When it comes to a Sugar Tax, the answer is no”. The TPA today urges the Prime Minister to stand by that statement.... Read more...
Responding to the proposed strike action by junior doctors, Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: The BMA should call off this dangerous strike and return to the negotiating table before patients suffer, not least because they insist that patient safety is their paramount concern. The current contract... Read more...
Reacting to George Osborne's speech in Cardiff this afternoon (7th January 2016), Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "The chancellor is right to say that the job of fixing the public finances is not yet complete, especially given we still have a substantial deficit of around £70... Read more...