Responding to the publication of Dame Margaret Hodge’s review into the Garden Bridge, John O'Connell, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "This utterly damning report proves what campaigners have been saying about this hugely expensive vanity project all along. There is absolutely no justification to carry on wasting taxpayers'... Read more...
Reacting to the news that CH2M have pulled out of their £170m contract with HS2, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance John O'Connell says: “The revolving door between HS2 Ltd and CH2M never passed the smell test and serious questions were rightly raised around HS2 continuously appointing staff from one... Read more...
Responding to the news that the Chancellor has dropped the National Insurance tax hike for the self-employed, John O'Connell, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "It is heartening that the Government has decided to abandon the much-criticised rise in national insurance contributions for the self-employed but this whole episode... Read more...
Local authorities spend nearly £15 million subsidising unions, TPA reveals 371 local authority staff members who worked for trade unions at least 50 per cent of the time The total amount spent on "facility time" by local authorities was at least £14,666,610.42 This would be enough to fix 276,728 potholes... Read more...
Responding to the Budget statement given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, John O'Connell, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "The Chancellor announced some welcome upward revisions to growth forecasts and set out a quicker pace of deficit reduction than at the Autumn Statement. That represents good progress, and... Read more...
Insurance Premium Tax has doubled over the last 18 months Three consecutive rises have brought the rate to 10 per cent TaxPayers' Alliance calls on Chancellor to reject another hike at next week's Budget - and instead cut it to give taxpayers a break In the light of recent... Read more...
Responding to the news that the Government is looking for new spending cuts of up to 6%, John O'Connell, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "For all the talk of fixing roofs and tough decisions, the public finances remain in a woeful state and the national debt continues to... Read more...
Campaign group says that revaluations should be automated and carried out annually to avoid big, unexpected tax hikes Heathrow airport had the biggest business rate bill in 2016-17 of almost £120 million, with Sellafield in Cumbria next on the list with £32 million The recent storm over business rates centres... Read more...
Responding to the news that Royal Bank of Scotland has announced its ninth consecutive multi-billion pound loss, Alex Wild, Research Director of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "Every day the government holds on to these shares they are risking further losses. Some ridiculed the previous chancellor for crystalising a £1 billion... Read more...
Research by the TaxPayers' Alliance shows government-managed large infrastructure projects have a poor record of being delivered on budget, with some projects overrunning by up to 190 per cent. Despite the Government’s insistence that HS2 will be delivered on budget, taxpayers should take no comfort given their appalling track record... Read more...
As HS2 clears its final hurdle in Parliament on Monday, new polling has discovered that 84 per cent of the general public don't believe HS2 will benefit them personally, while 80 per cent don't believe the project will be delivered on budget. On Monday, MPs are debating the Lords' amendments... Read more...
TaxPayers' Alliance welcomes Surrey County Council's decision to back down from a 15% Council Tax hike Decision means it is unlikely there will be referendum on the astronomical tax increase But the proposed budget still seeks a 4.99% Council Tax hike - just below the threshold for triggering a vote... Read more...
As Peers prepare to debate the HS2 Bill during its Third Reading tomorrow, the TaxPayers’ Alliance lit up Piccadilly Circus with a call to stop the failing project once and for all. Lord Framlingham tabled the "fatal amendment" on the HS2 Bill before it goes for its Third Reading tomorrow... Read more...
Lord Framlingham has today tabled a "fatal amendment" on the HS2 Bill before it goes for its Third Reading next week, as he seeks to block this thoroughly wasteful vanity project. This is another opportunity to stop the HS2 Bill in its tracks - and as such it serves to... Read more...
Responding to the news that ministers have approved a 6 per cent rise in council tax to fund social care, John O'Connell, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "A 6 per cent Council Tax rise will put unimaginable pressure on already struggling families without providing any real solution to... Read more...
New research shows that George Osborne's sugar tax not certain to raise the money for sport that has been claimed Gap in revenue will result in additional borrowing or higher taxes on hard-pressed families 20 percent revenue shortfall is equivalent to 1% increase in inheritance tax Sugar tax also likely... Read more...
New forecast means there will have been at least 21 consecutive years of deficits by 2022 13 years after the financial crisis, we will still be living beyond our means Soaring debt will saddle future generations with even higher taxes Reacting to the Autumn Statement, John O'Connell, Chief Executive of... Read more...
TPA renews its call to Stamp Out Stamp Duty Click here for more on our campaign In light of The Daily Telegraph's welcome recommendation to slash Stamp Duty - following revelations that the Stamp Duty reforms have further distorted the market and raised only half the amount of revenue predicted... Read more...
Income tax and national insurance: How much tax do you really pay? Income tax+national insurance means the 20 per cent tax rate is effectively 40.2 per cent Multiple taxes on wages are needlessly complex and obscure National insurance should be abolished by 2021 for a simpler and more transparent tax... Read more...
The TaxPayers' Alliance today launches YourTPA, a unique free-to-download App, which allows taxpayers to access local council data on their mobile devices. Users can type in their postcodes which brings up local data, allowing users to scrutinise and hold their individual authorities to account. This app will help promote transparency across local government. YourTPA is a collection of... Read more...
Research from TaxPayers' Alliance shows an independent Scotland would have to depend on measures such as the following in order to balance the books: Increasing basic rate income tax to 39 per cent Doubling VAT to 40 per cent Cutting health spending by 82 per cent Cutting all spending on... Read more...
Responding to the speech by Chris Grayling where he argues the case for HS2 is stronger than ever,John O'Connell, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, says: "Despite assertions to the contrary, the arguments for HS2 remain incredibly weak. HS2 offers appalling value for money and there are many more worthwhile... Read more...
Responding to the speech by Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn today at Labour Party Conference, John O'Connell, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "This was a prospectus for poverty, unemployment, debt and recession. With the national debt standing at £25,000 for every man, woman and child and the government running a... Read more...
Responding to the decision to go ahead with Hinkley Point, John O'Connell, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "It's deeply disappointing that the government is pressing ahead with this deal which combines huge risk with spectacularly bad value for money. The technology to be used is unproven and projects using... Read more...