Embargoed: 00:01 Friday 11 September 2020 English councils have invested heavily in commercial property since 2015. Analysis of a sample of local authorities showed millions being lost, with yields well below forecasts. The uncertainty caused by covid-19 confirms the need for new measures to restrict and monitor these investment... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to reports that Harry and Meghan have paid back the money for Frogmore Cottage, Joe Ventre, digital campaign manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “At long last the California couple have coughed up the cash. “This was a hard-fought win for taxpayers, who were furious... Read more...
For immediate release Commenting on reports that the chancellor is planning a tax raid to pay for the coronavirus response, John O’Connell chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“Punishing tax hikes are the exact opposite of what Britain needs, and Rishi must rule them out.“After the monumental national effort to... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the announcement by Matt Hancock that Public Health England will be scrapped, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “This is very welcome news for taxpayers, who for too long have propped up a nannying quango more interested in dictating diets than... Read more...
For immediate release Commenting on today’s announcement from the ONS that the UK has officially fallen into recession, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "While this news won’t come as a surprise, taxpayers will want to hear how the government plans to tackle this unprecedented economic... Read more...
Embargoed: 00:01 Wednesday 29 July 2020 TaxPayers’ Alliance research finds costs of reported online sales tax. It would hit the poorest and most vulnerable hardest, with deliveries being a lifeline for millions. The campaign group opposes the chancellor’s constant war on shoppers. New analysis from the TaxPayers’ Alliance reveals... Read more...
Embargoed 00:01 Monday 27 July Responding to the new government obesity strategy, John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “This new strategy leaves slim pickings for struggling families who rely on affordable meals to put food on the table. "Outright ad bans on ordinary foods and ending... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to reports of new government obesity measures such as banning in-store promotions, John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "Hard-pressed hungry shoppers don’t need Boris piling on the pounds to their weekly food bill. "Ministers are telling taxpayers to 'eat out to help... Read more...
EMBARGOED 22:30 THURSDAY 16 JULY Responding to the report by the International Development Committee on "Effectiveness of UK aid: potential impact of FCO/DFID merger findings", James Roberts, political director of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "If MPs think streamlining foreign aid will undermine Britain's place in the world, they must... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the confirmation that the BBC will end free TV licences for over 75s, James Roberts, political director of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: "This announcement shows the Beeb would rather fleece pensioners than cut its wasteful diversity budgets and top star salaries. "The TV tax is a... Read more...
For immediate release Analysis from the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) reveals that the chancellor’s raising of the stamp duty land tax threshold to £500,000 could unlock 216,000 house moves, equivalent to the total housing stock of Wiltshire, Bradford or the city of Manchester. Click here to read the analysis Modelling... Read more...
For immediate release Commenting on the chancellor’s economic statement, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “The chancellor announced a ‘plan for jobs’ but it’s tomorrow’s taxpayers who will have to work hard to pay for it all. “While the jobs retention bonus will help ensure that... Read more...
For immediate release Commenting on the further funding package for local councils announced by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government, Harry Fone, grassroots campaign manager of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “This endless flow of uncontrolled cash to cack-handed councils is likely to see millions more... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the prime minister’s speech on re-building the economy post pandemic, John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Boris the Builder is promising to fix it, but jobs and investment won’t come from spending splurges alone. “The PM’s promises on planning reform and... Read more...
Embargoed for 22:00, Wednesday 24th June Campaign group recommends a score of regulatory reforms to help us recover from the sharpest economic contraction in history. Red tape could be slashed to allow new terraced homes, pub takeaways, work from home apps, approval for new medicines and sick pay for the... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the news that Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is to save taxpayers' cash by moving City Hall, James Roberts, political director at the TaxPayers' Alliance said: "Congratulations to Khan for putting taxpayers first and moving the mayoral team to more affordable offices. "GLA savings... Read more...
For immediate release Commenting on the announced merger of the Department for International Development into the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, James Roberts, political director of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "This shift is good news for taxpayers, but it's crucial that the end result is less of their money being... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to today's ONS figures, John O'Connell chief executive at the TaxPayers' Alliance said: "The shocking size of this slump is yet another reminder of the dire economic circumstances we find ourselves in. "With the public finances in tatters and the country facing painful unemployment,... Read more...
Embargoed: 00:01 Tuesday 9 June The TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) today reveals its City Hall Rich List 2020, detailing hundreds of transport bosses earning more than £100,000 in pay, bonuses and benefits last year.In total, 654 staff employed by the Greater London Authority and its subsidiary bodies (Transport for London, the Metropolitan Police, the London... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to reports of a tax and regulation stimulus package, John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:"Taxpayers and businesses experiencing severe economic uncertainty will be heartened to hear that a recovery plan looks set to focus on tax cuts and deregulation.It's vital that the government... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the announcement of the new BBC director general, John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“Continuing the long line of establishment BBC bosses suggests the Beeb have tuned out the concerns of licence-fee payers.“Commercial experience from the new director general is unlikely to turn... Read more...
Embargoed 22:00 Wednesday 3 June The economic fallout of coronavirus could dwarf the great recession. To maximise the chances of bouncing back, there should be no taxpayer austerity. Former secretary of state for trade and industry Lord Lilley has welcomed an ambitious package of supply side reforms from the TaxPayers’ Alliance.... Read more...
Embargoed 00:01 Thursday 28 May At a time of student anger over poor value for money, the TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) today reveals that 29 British universities (roughly 1 in 5) spent £702,057 on vehicles for vice-chancellors or their equivalents between 2016 and 2019. Some of the vice-chancellors provided with cars received total annual... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the Office for National Statistics' release of the public sector finance statistics for April, John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "Government borrowing is now breaking records thanks to this crisis, with this being the largest proportionate annual increase in debt since D-Day.... Read more...