For immediate release Responding to Jeremy Hunt announcing a freeze on civil service expansion and a return to pre-pandemic levels, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Freezing Whitehall expansion is a step in the right direction. “The mandarin jobs boom is one of the key drivers... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to reports that Norwich council is considering introducing a four-day week for staff, Elliot Keck, head of campaigns of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Local taxpayers are paying for a full-time council, and that’s what they expect to receive. “Town hall bosses should learn from the... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to predictions that taxes will amount to 37 per cent of national income by the next election, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “With taxes heading for an all-time record, the direction of travel is bleak for hard-pressed households. “Taxpayers are being... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to new rules on presenter impartiality, Joe Ventre, digital campaign manager of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “The BBC is tying itself in knots trying to appease partisan pundits. “Reining in highly paid presenters is long overdue, but Auntie has left an open goal for loaded... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the prime minister’s announcements on net zero, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Brits will be relieved by these sensible moves to take the heat off household budgets. “Families and businesses want solutions to the real problem of climate change that... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to reports that Surrey Heath may be facing effective bankruptcy in the next two years, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Local residents will fear that the council’s financial recklessness will lead to tax rises and service cuts. “Time and time again... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to reports that the triple lock could rise by more than inflation, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “The triple lock is placing unsustainable pressure on the public finances, limiting scope for much needed tax cuts which would benefit everyone. “While pensioners... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to reports that civil servants in Scotland will be offered a four-day week, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Scots have no appetite for a part time public sector. “A four-day week with no loss of pay will mean either worse services... Read more...
Embargoed: 00:01 Thursday 31st August 2023 The TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) has written to all council leaders asking them to sign a pledge ruling out implementing a four-day working week in their Town Hall. A four-day week, whereby employees would reduce their hours worked by 20 per cent for the... Read more...
Embargoed: 00:01 Tuesday 29th August 2023 Responding to the expansion of ULEZ, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “The expansion of ULEZ is bad news for motorists in London and beyond. “As hard-pressed drivers face coughing up for yet another levy, motorists elsewhere fear that similar... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to news that the UK’s public sector borrowing bill rose less than expected last month, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "Better-than-expected borrowing figures give the government an opportunity to get serious about economic growth. "Families and businesses are struggling with falling... Read more...
Embargoed: 00:01 Wednesday 16th August 2023 The disparity in council tax burdens means that some residents are paying five times as much council tax relative to their salary compared to residents in other local authorities. Nationally, council tax has more than doubled in relation to median earnings since its... Read more...
NOTE: The original version of this press release stated that the top three grade levels receive between £73,000 and £208,100. This has now been corrected. Embargoed: 00:01 Wednesday 9th August 2023 Between March 2016 and March 2023 civil service employment increased from 418,340 to 519,780, a jump of 101,440 or... Read more...
For immediate release James Naish, leader of Bassetlaw District Council, has ruled out plans to implement a four-day working week for council staff following a protest from the TaxPayers’ Alliance. This follows reports that Naish “planned to trial the four-day week to try to tackle recruitment and retention problems”. ... Read more...
For immediate release The number of compliance staff in the public sector halved during the pandemic, contributing to a potential five-fold increase in fraud according to analysis by the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) of the whole of government accounts. The campaign group accuses ministers of failing to grasp the severity... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to reports of a formal review into the future of BBC funding, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “The TV tax is long past its use by date. "Retaining the licence fee would force unwilling and uninterested taxpayers to cough up for... Read more...
Embargoed: 00:01 Sunday 16th July 2023 BBC stars and executives are both receiving mega-salaries, with senior executives costing £36.3 million in 2022/23 and on-air talent costing a total of £36 million Analysis shows the median salary of a BBC employee is 78 per cent higher than the median salary... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to reports that abolition of inheritance tax could be promised at the next election, John O’Connell chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Taxpayers would applaud any government who ditched the death tax. “Inheritance tax is unfair, unpopular and immoral and has a detrimental impact... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the 5-7 per cent public sector pay offer, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "With taxes at a 70 year high and the public finances flashing red, it's encouraging that the government has found ways to pay for a big public... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the resignation of HS2’s chief executive, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “A change in leadership at the top of HS2 will bring little comfort to taxpayers. “Brits know that new management will not mean an end to the spiralling costs... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the BBC’s annual report, which shows an increase from 179 to 220 in the number of employees receiving over £150,000, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “These bumper pay packets are a kick in the teeth for hard pressed Brits. “With... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to Lee Rowley’s letter to South Cambridgeshire District Council demanding an end to their four-day week experiment, Elliot Keck, investigations campaign manager of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Local taxpayers will be delighted to see the government joining us in opposing the council clock-off. “A local... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the NHS workforce plan, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Taxpayers will wonder whether yet more billions will cure the problems plaguing the health service. “After years of wasteful spending and misplaced priorities, households will understandably demand results from the latest... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to new inflation and public sector net borrowing figures, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Taxpayers are fed up with paying the price for persistent inflation, and seemingly no light at the end of the tunnel. “As national debt hits a sixty... Read more...