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...
For immediate release Responding to reports of the government planning to delay the implementation of a packaging tax (extended producer responsibility), John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “The government is right to look again at the wrapper tax. “It will hit the poorest households by hiking up... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to reports that the chancellor plans to crackdown on wasteful EDI spending in Whitehall, Tom Ryan, policy analyst of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Taxpayers are fed up of funding public sector non-jobs. “But with reductions in taxpayer-funded EDI roles promised before, the proof will be... Read more...
NOTE: The original version of this press release stated that Nottingham had increased its council tax in cash terms more than any other English local authority since 1993. This has now been corrected. Embargoed: 00:01 Tuesday 13th June 2023 The average band D council tax bill in England... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to reports that the chancellor is set to scale back the windfall tax on oil and gas producers, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Scaling back the windfall tax shows the government recognises the harm it is doing to investment. “But rather... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to the Section 114 notice issued by Woking Borough Council, Elliot Keck, investigations campaign manager of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Woking residents have been badly let down by town hall bosses. “Thanks to this botched spending spree, local households will likely face years of punishing... Read more...
For immediate release As quoted by Anthony Browne MP at today’s prime minister’s questions, the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) has revealed that rolling out a four-day working week across the public sector would cost £30 billion per year in lost working time. This is the equivalent of a 5p rise... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to Keir Starmer’s NHS speech, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Keir Starmer is right to say the NHS needs reform. “Everybody wants to see improvements in the health service but the answer cannot always be more money, too much of which... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to South Cambridgeshire District Council’s (SCDC) decision to extend its four day working week experiment to March 2024, Elliot Keck, investigations campaign manager of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "Local residents will be furious that the council has extended this mad experiment. “Despite the trial’s disappointing... Read more...
For immediate release Responding to Mel Stride’s remarks that workers returning to employment could mean a 2p cut to the basic rate of income tax, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “Households are tired of empty promises on taxation. “While ministers are right to focus on... Read more...
For immediate release New analysis by the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) has raised doubts about the claimed success of South Cambridgeshire District Council’s four-day working week trial, as it emerges that key performance indicators (KPIs) are down when compared to before the pandemic. The campaign group, which was in Cambourne... Read more...