Embargoed: 00:01 Saturday 22 May 2021 With international travel now resuming, the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) have found that government departments spent £1,267,954 on first and business class flights before the covid-19 lockdowns began. Across government departments, business class flights came to a total of £1,256,561 in 2019-20, making the... Read more...
Embargoed: 00:01 Friday 21 May 2021 As the 10p plastic bag charge comes into effect today, the TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) has calculated the increased rate will cost consumers £1.03 billion over the next decade. As well as the 10p levy itself, shoppers face hidden costs like the increased use... Read more...
Responding to the culture secretary's suggestion that Channel 4 could be privatised, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “There’s no reason Channel 4 should still be taxpayer-owned in 2021. “In the age of streaming, it’s ridiculous that we have two publicly-owned broadcasters. “It’s about time Channel... Read more...
Embargoed: 00:01 Wednesday 12th May 2021 Research by the TaxPayers’ Alliance has confirmed that councils across the UK have made significant savings on printing in the last year. Local authorities spent £41.6 million on printing between April 2020 and February 2021 - a decline of nearly £32 million (43... Read more...
Embargoed: 00:01 Monday 3 May 2021 As Brits enjoy the Bank Holiday with a drink outside, the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) is calling on the chancellor to extend the current five per cent reduced rate of VAT and include alcohol. Doing this until April 2023 could generate at least £15.7... Read more...
For immediate release With High Speed 2 (HS2) closing applications for a new chair in 3 weeks, the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) are putting forward a candidate to represent taxpayers’ interests. If offered the position, TPA candidate Harry Fone would cut down waste and then scrap the project, after Freedom... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the news Danielle Boxall, media campaign manager at the TaxPayers' Alliance said: “Slashing foreign aid to China is long overdue.“Previous projects, like helping the Chinese produce rice, saw wanton waste of taxpayers’ cash.“This should be a stepping stone to a proper and permanent cut... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to today’s employment figures from the Office for National Statistics, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Taxpayers have been left doing the heavy lifting off the back of the covid crisis. “Public sector job growth and the ongoing furlough scheme are no... Read more...
Embargoed: 00:01 Wednesday 7 April 2021 Town Hall Rich List 2021 finds the number of officials receiving more than £100,000 went up to 2,802 by the onset of the covid pandemic. With families now facing higher council tax bills, new polling shows the overwhelming majority oppose increases by a... Read more...
Embargoed: 00:01 Sunday 28 March 2021 Council tax has increased by 111 per cent since 2001-02, taking the highest band D bills to well over £2,200. Liverpool will have the highest council tax in the North West at £2,129. TaxPayers’ Alliance found the top 30 council tax increases in... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to data released today showing rising levels of council tax in England, Harry Fone, grassroots campaign manager of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “These punishing hikes will hit residents hard. “Crushing council tax bills are the last thing taxpayers need as we emerge from the coronavirus... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to measures announced on ‘Tax Day’ to cut inheritance tax red tape, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Minimising the red tape faced by grieving families is the right step. “Limiting paperwork is long overdue, but inheritance tax remains deeply unfair... Read more...
Embargoed: 00:01 Sunday 21 March 2021 Ahead of the launch of the Scottish election campaigns, the TaxPayers’ Alliance has found that an independent Scotland would need to raise the basic rate of income tax to 46 pence in the pound to pay for its current level of spending. With... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to today’s announcement in the Integrated Review that foreign aid spending will increase to 0.7 per cent of GNI, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Politicians must be on another planet if they think ratcheting back up Britain’s foreign aid bill is... Read more...
EMBARGOED 00:01 Friday 12 March 2021 Responding to research from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) showing average council tax in England now exceeds £2,000 in the North East and South West of England, Harry Fone, grassroots campaign manager of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Council tax... Read more...
Embargoed: 00:01 Friday 5 March 2021 The UK’s real national debt is much higher than suggested by Wednesday’s budget figures, at £9.6 trillion. This is over £143,000 per person. The total debt, which includes PFI and pension liabilities, is twice the size of the African economy, according to IMF... Read more...
For immediate release New TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) analysis of OECD data has found that tax changes in today’s budget will make corporate tax rates higher than those in France. This is despite claims that corporation tax rates will still be the lowest in the G7. Research shows the... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the budget, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “There were some wins for taxpayers today, but it doesn’t gloss over the fact that this was a tax-raising budget. “The chancellor is helping to rescue struggling sectors but £30 billion worth... Read more...
Embargoed: 00:01 Sunday 28 February 2021 Of 1,651 tax changes since 2010, 63 per cent were tax rises. VAT, vehicle excise duty and income tax saw the most changes. Currently, Boris Johnson is the only leader to introduce slightly more cuts than rises, though this may change if taxes... Read more...
Embargoed: 00:01 Monday 22 February 2021 Secondary school spending and attainment data from 2017-18 shows the range of schools and their outcomes has broadened over the last decade. Changes have included a significant decrease in the cost of supply teachers, down from £293m in 2009-10 to £61.8m in 2017-18. ... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the Labour leader’s speech on a “new partnership” between government and business, John O’Connell, executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“The Labour leader may be the only person right now who doesn’t want to return to business as usual.“Taxpayers are desperate to get on with... Read more...
Embargoed: 00:01 Thursday 18 February The TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) is calling for a respite from taxes, a rescue for struggling sectors, and a revival for the economy. The tax rescue package includes £13 billion of savings for hospitality this year, saving our summer holidays by extending VAT and business... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the public sector exit payment cap being revoked, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Having delayed it for five years, mandarins managed just three months without tapping up taxpayers for six-figure payouts. "Unless the rules are urgently replaced, private sector workers... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the news that the licence fee will increase to £159 from 1st April, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Another hike in the hated TV tax is the last thing struggling households need. “Brits are fed up with seeing the Beeb... Read more...