For immediate release Responding to the cut to interest rates, Darwin Friend, head of research of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:"An interest rate cut is welcome news for taxpayers, particularly given the calamitous level of public sector debt."While this cut will reduce the burden of public sector debt interest payments, it... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to Rachel Reeves’ review of the public finances, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“A fiscal statement so focused rhetorically on overspending will be music to the ears of many taxpayers, particularly given the catastrophic level of public sector debt.“But it is impossible to... Read more...
**CORRECTION: The original version of this press release said that debt was increasing by £382 million per year. In fact it's increasing by £382 million per day. This has now been changed.** For immediate release The TaxPayers’ Alliance has relaunched its ticking debt clock, fifteen years after its groundbreaking campaign... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to reports that Rachel Reeves is set to release the results of an audit which is expected to show a significant black hole in the public finances, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Taxpayers will not be shocked by the state of... Read more...
For immediate release BBC stars and executives are both receiving mega-salaries, with senior executives costing £40 million in 2023-24 and on-air talent costing a total of £39 million. A total of 447 staff at the BBC earn over £100,000 while 155 receive salaries above £178,000. The huge cost of BBC... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the publication of the BBC’s latest annual report and accounts 2023-24, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“Licence fee payers will be livid at the excess and extravagance of the top level pay packets at the Beeb“BBC bosses love to bang the drum... Read more...
Embargoed: 22:30, Sunday 21st July 2024 Over 1,400 employees of the Scottish public sector received over £100,000 in salary, bonuses, pension payments and other perks during the 2022-23 financial year, according to the first ever Scottish public sector rich list. The research, produced by the TaxPayers’ Alliance, a campaign group,... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the UK restoring funding to the UN Reliefs and Works Agency (UNRWA), Jonathan Eida, researcher of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“Taxpayers will be concerned about the decision to restore funding to UNRWA given the alarming allegations made against the organisation.“For decades this body has attracted enormous... Read more...
Embargoed: 22:30, Thursday 18th July, 2024 Three years on from the lifting of the final lockdown measures in the United Kingdom on 19th July 2021, a landmark study by a campaign group of covid spending among comparable OECD nations has found that the UK was one of the worst performing... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the King’s Speech, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Taxpayers will be deeply disappointed by a legislative programme that fiddles with everything while fixing nothing. “With frontline services on their knees and the tax burden heading to a record high, Brits... Read more...
Embargoed: 22:30, Saturday 13th July 2024 Almost £100 million was spent by the public sector on trade union facility time in 2022-23. There were 23,592 public sector workers moonlighting as trade union reps in 2022-23, the second highest on record, with the full-time equivalent figure of 20,791... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to Rachel Reeves’ first speech as chancellor of the exchequer, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“Taxpayers will welcome the chancellor’s commitment to delivering growth and her genuine grasp of the problems with the planning system. “But with Reeves frequently reaching for the same tired... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to Sir Keir Starmer’s first speech as prime minister, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“Labour enters office with a record high tax burden pumping hundreds of billions into the exchequer for Sir Keir Starmer and his ministers to deliver the services that... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the release of Reform UK’s ‘contract’, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“Reform’s package of tax cuts, spending controls, and reducing regulation has the potential to offer real relief to Brits struggling under a record high tax burden and give a boost to... Read more...
Embargoed: 00:01, Saturday 15th June 2024 An estimated £180 million of beer duty will be paid to the Treasury during the Euros. UK has the second-highest beer duty compared to EU member states; British drinkers will pay the highest beer duty of any EU country represented at the European... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the Labour Party manifesto launch, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“Taxpayers hoping for change from an ever-rising tax burden will be bitterly disappointed by a Labour manifesto that may rule out major tax rises, but leaves the door open to alternative ways... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the launch of the Conservative Party manifesto, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“With the tax burden on course to hit an 80 year high, Brits of all ages are looking for concrete measures to get runaway spending under control and fundamentally reform... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the Liberal Democrat election manifesto, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“The Lib Dem manifesto offers warm words on balancing the books and bringing down personal taxes, but beneath the headlines, there’s little to cheer for taxpayers. “Reforms to IR35 rules offer a glimmer... Read more...
Embargoed: 00:01, Monday 27th May 2024 Cash strapped councils have built up a collection of almost two million pieces of art worth billions of pounds yet largely hidden from view by the public, it has been revealed today. The research, conducted by the TaxPayers’ Alliance, has found that town halls now own almost... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to reports that the government is going to scrap the generational smoking ban as a result of the general election, Benjamin Elks, grassroots development manager of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “The decision to scrap the bonkers generational smoking ban is good news, but taxpayers will... Read more...
Embargoed: 00:01, Monday 20th May 2024 *NOTE: This press release has been updated to make clear that the Conservative Party estimates are based on HM Treasury figures* Revenue raised from imposing VAT on private school fees could almost entirely be lost as a result of the increased cost to the... Read more...
*Embargoed: 00:01 Wednesday 15th May 2024* Responding to the National Audit Office report criticising HMRC performance, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “This scathing report from the NAO will come as no surprise to taxpayers who have tried and tried again to contact HMRC.“While civil servants... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to reports that diversity roles in the civil service are set to be scrapped, Joanna Marchong, investigations campaigns manager of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Taxpayers will be thrilled that ministers are injecting some much needed common sense into Whitehall.“Creating whole teams devoted to EDI initiatives has... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to GDP figures showing the UK has officially emerged from a recession, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:“The return to growth is a rare piece of good news for taxpayers, who have had little to smile about recently.“But while commentators talk of a... Read more...