Party Players: EU Funding of Party Political Research
The EU has in the past been criticised for funding trans-national political groups with European taxpayers’ money. Read more...
Taxpayer Funding of Trade Unions
Public sector trade unions are preparing to fight spending cuts and threaten strikes, and they are doing so with the help of taxpayers' money. Read more...
Foreign Office Prevent Grants
In September 2009 the TPA revealed for the first time where local authority 'Preventing Violent Extremism' (PVE) grants were going. The Government has now decided to adopt our position and abolish these grants, however Prevent - part of the broader 'Contest' strategy - is cross-departmental and the Foreign & Commonwealth... Read more...
Welfare Reform in Tough Times
The TaxPayers' Alliance sets out, for the first time, a practical, costed guide to welfare reform. Read more...
New TPA Research: A Practical Guide to Welfare Reform
Groundbreaking new research explores what improvements could be made to the benefits system on a tight budget Read more...
EU Flags
The EU enjoys many of the trappings of a state. It has an anthem and a patron saint, a passport and a President. But it is the EU flag that is the most well known symbol of the union. Read more...
Speeding Fines
The first report to collate the total amount of money generated from fixed penalties caught on speed cameras and fines for speeding and neglect of traffic directions imposed by the magistrates' courts throughout all of the UK. Read more...
The Spirit Illusion
A critical analysis of how "The Spirit Level" compares countries. Read more...
The TaxPayers’ Alliance Manifesto: 3 Months On
Shortly before the last General Election, the TaxPayers’ Alliance produced a manifesto. We pledged to judge any new Government on the standard it set. The manifesto set out recommendations in three areas – tax & spending, reforming services and democracy & transparency – and divided them between measures where it expected to see action... Read more...
Trade Union Rich List
Cuts in public spending are essential in order to deal with a crisis in the public finances, but the unions are already threatening fresh waves of strikes if cuts are put in place. This new research note shows that many trade union leaders are receiving six-figure remuneration packages. Read more...
Regional Development Agencies Exposed
This report presents the first full list of the grants awarded by RDAs 2007-2009, and reveals how the majority of grants are going to other organisations rooted in the public sector, as well as exposing the growth of regional quangos. Read more...
Economic Effects of Rapid Fiscal Adjustment
This research note argues that ambitious cuts in spending can deliver improvements in both the UK’s fiscal position and economic prospects. Read more...
MP Resettlement Grants
After the expenses scandal of the previous summer, many MPs decided against standing for re-election. Others were voted out at the election. This research note details how departing MPs are receiving a one-off Resettlement Grant of 50-100 percent of their annual salary, dependent on their age and length of service. ... Read more...
European Union Orchestras
This research note explores how the European Union budget is being used to fund a wide range of orchestras, concerts and music festivals, and whether there is a clear policy of using these orchestras to promote the political objectives of the EU, in particular ever closer political union. Read more...
The Economic Cost of High Spending
This new research looks at the evidence that higher spending leads to lower economic growth, and suggests that the increase in spending over the last decade is already seriously depressing trend growth. Read more...
Britain’s Justice and Home Affairs Opt-Ins
In this research note, the TaxPayers’ Alliance reveals a list of JHA areas, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, in which the British Government has surrendered its opt out in Brussels. Read more...
Town Hall Rich List 2010
Many workers in the public and private sectors expect pay freezes or cuts with resources scarce following the recession and a crisis in the public finances. Read more...
The Expansion of the EU Quangocracy
Our report ACA-YJB: A Guide to the UK Semi-Autonomous Public Bodies showed there are 1,148 national arms length bodies in Britain, costing over £90 billion. Read more...
How to Cut Public Spending (and still win an election)
This new book, edited by Matthew Sinclair, presents the most thorough investigation yet of this vital issue and a plan to turn things around. Read more...
EU Research Papers
For your convenience: Here is a list of our EU research papers Read more...
Strikes in the Public and Private Sectors
This new research note shows that public sector staff are striking fifteen times more than those in the private sector, a far greater ratio than ten years ago. Read more...
MPs' pay - they don't deserve more
The news of a pay rise for MPs, while so many people in the public and private sectors are facing a freeze at best, will shock taxpayers. MPs are already well paid, as we set out in a recent TPA research note: "In the general context of UK earnings, individual... Read more...
Council Pensions: The £53 Billion Black Hole
Against a background of dire problems in the public finances, the overly generous Local Government Pension Scheme is placing an unsustainable burden on taxpayers and on council budgets. The report warns of the severe costs which will be incurred if the Scheme continues unreformed. Read more...
Towards Transparent Rewards
In 2009 the Government asked local authorities to comment on its proposals for increased transparency in executive pay. This research note surmises their responses, and considers what impact resistance has had on the final plans. Read more...