For immediate release A written ministerial statement this morning has confirmed that the government will cease the funding of unconscious bias training, after TaxPayers’ Alliance research found that over £400,000 was spent on such training in the last two years. Responding to roll back of Whitehall unconscious bias... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to IPSA’s announcement of a pay freeze for MPs, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “This victory for common sense is an early Christmas present for taxpayers. “With the public finances in such a dire state, many public sector salaries have rightly... Read more...
For immediate release Research by the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) has revealed Bristol city council has wasted at least £5 million of taxpayers’ money in the last five years. The council has launched a consultation which could potentially raise tax by five per cent next year thanks to bungling bosses and... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the Comprehensive Spending Review, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “The lack of focus on value for money in today’s spending review will no doubt disappoint taxpayers. “Coronavirus has undeniably left a large hole in the nation’s finances. But instead of... Read more...
For immediate release The TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) have uncovered a total of £5,577,988,036.64 of waste across government in a major new investigation with the Daily Mail. The research, launched today on the front page of the Daily Mail, looked into all areas of public spending and comes as the... Read more...
For immediate release The TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) recommends a number of savings to maintain current spending commitments and help us recover from the sharpest economic contraction in history. Analysis shows that reorganising government and reforming pensioner benefits could save £43 billion next year. Recent reports suggest that £40 billion worth... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to news of a £21 million payout to a PPE broker, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“This is an eye-watering amount of taxpayers’ money, and suggests a troubling lack of care with the public purse during the covid crisis.“In a pandemic, action must... Read more...
Embargoed: 00:01 Thursday 12 November The TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) has revealed that a total of 4,112 staff at British universities taking home over £100,000 each year between 2019 and 2020, an increase of 14 per cent from the previous year. It comes after Vice Chancellors demanded a £2 billion government... Read more...
Embargo - 00:01 Tuesday 10 November 2020 Responding to the start of negotiations on the future cost of the TV licence, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “These talks must deliver a fairer deal for taxpayers. “Auntie should be ordered to keep costs down to protect... Read more...
Embargoed: 00:01 Sunday 8 November 2020 The TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) has proposed new measures to transform the effectiveness and transparency of public bodies. The campaign group is calling on the government to implement a points-based appointments system, by applying the underlying principles of the UK’s new immigration system.The covid crisis... Read more...
Embargoed: 00:01 Monday 26 October 2020 The TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) has recommended new measures to underpin a future coronavirus inquiry, to avoid repeating the mistakes of previous public inquiries. The campaign group found that government departments spent over £300 million on public inquiries in the last five years, with investigations... Read more...
Embargoed: 00:01 Saturday 17 October 2020 The government plans to scrap VAT-free sales in airports for items such as electronics, food and clothing for passengers travelling outside the EU. A new briefing note shows that the change could cost UK residents who fly to non-EU countries an extra £12.1 million... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to Boris Johnson’s speech to Conservative Party conference, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Many will welcome the Prime Minister’s rallying cry that taxpayers can’t be expected to foot the bill for evermore state spending. “But paying lip service to ‘Uncle Sugar’... Read more...
Embargoed: 00:01 Tuesday 6 October 2020 New research from the TaxPayers’ Alliance has revealed that the annual cost of quango board members was almost £124 million, with some collecting multiple pay packets by sitting on different boards. Analysis of 2018-19 figures - the most recent year for which full... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the chancellor’s winter economy plan, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance said: “Rishi is right to take a more sustainable path in our recovery from the covid crisis. “These measures are a better alternative to full furlough, lightening the load on hard-pressed... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to Keir Starmer’s speech to the Labour Party conference, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “The opposition leader is absolutely right to call out wasted millions, but announcing further spending promises will only create more of the same. “The last thing families... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the shadow chancellor’s speech to the Labour Party conference, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “It’s refreshing to hear the shadow chancellor take a stand on cavalier government spending splurges. “Endless treasury schemes and failed PPE contracts have cost hard-pressed taxpayers... Read more...
For immediate release BBC stars and executives are both receiving mega-salaries, with senior executives costing a total of £37.5 million each year, and enjoying perks including drivers and four star spa hotels. Analysis shows the median salary of a BBC employee is 83 per cent higher than the median... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the publication of BBC star salaries, John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance said: “BBC salary surges for loaded luvvies fly in the face of ratepayers facing economic ruin. “These bumper Beeb pay packets are picked from the pockets of pensioners and poor... Read more...
Embargoed: 00:01 Monday 14 September 2020 As the TUC Congress begins today, the TaxPayers’ Alliance has revealed that the average remuneration of the top 29 public sector union bosses was £153,935 in 2019.Education union bosses topped this year’s annual Public Sector Trade Union Rich List, with six senior staff sharing £1,296,869 between them.Sally Hunt, former general secretary of... Read more...
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...