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- NEW INDEPENDENT, NON-PARTY CAMPAIGN AGAINST RECKLESS SPENDING AND WASTE IN THE REGION
- BACKED BY A THOUSAND SUPPORTERS IN THE REGION AND A COUNCIL OF LEADING LOCAL FIGURES
- CAMPAIGN TO LAUNCH OUTSIDE THE PUBLIC ARTS CENTRE WITH NEW PETITION TO OPPOSE ANY EXTRA MONEY FOR THE FAILING PROJECT
The TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) – Britain’s independent campaign for lower taxes and better government – is launching a new campaign in the region. The West Midlands TaxPayers’ Alliance (WMTPA) is a new regional branch of the national TPA. The cause is backed by some of Britain’s most respected academics and businesspeople. We are not linked to any political party and accept no public money.
The WMTPA is a new voice for those who want a different future for the West Midlands. The group is building a grass-roots movement that can develop new policy ideas and communicate them to the people of the West Midlands. We will represent the views of taxpayers and work with the national TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) promoting new research on public services and local government.
We will be holding meetings, investigating waste using the Freedom of Information Act, engaging with the media and organising direct mail efforts to spread our message. We already have over 1,000 supporters, a full-time organizer and a permanent office. We are supported by some leading figures in the West Midlands.
Among the new West Midlands TaxPayers’ Alliance Council are:
Keith Bradshaw, Chairman, Listers of Coventry
Robert Edmiston, Chairman, IM Group
Con Folkes, Chairman, Folkes Holdings
Mohammed Hasan, Catalyst Associates
Nigel Hastilow, former Birmingham Post editor
Chris Kelly, Chairman and Managing Director, Keltruck Ltd.
Neal Radford, former England cricketer
Peter Roberts, Leader of the 1.8 million Downing Street petition against road pricing
Richard Smith, Managing Director, HR Smith Group
We will expose waste, attack reckless spending, and campaign against all those politicians who meddle in vital services and want to keep taxes high on ordinary people. Our campaign has five main ideas to bring prosperity and better services to the West Midlands: (1) Lower taxes; (2) More accountability; (3) An end to waste; (4) Less regulation; and (5) Reformed public services.
In particular, we will campaign to:
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- Stop road pricing
- Cut taxes on business
- Reduce income tax rates
- Oppose new green taxes
- Lower council tax
- Scrap Inheritance Tax
- End the benefit trap
- Cut taxes on savings and pensions
- Stop new council bin taxes
- Abolish regional quangos
The new campaign will be launching outside the Public Arts Centre in West Bromwich as a prominent symbol of waste in the region. For more details, please see the operational note below.
Matthew Elliott, Chief Executive of the national TaxPayers' Alliance welcomed the launch of the new campaign:
“It’s great news that taxpayers in the West Midlands are finally going to be represented by a non-party campaign. People are turning off party politics but they are not losing interest in how their money is being spent and all too often wasted by politicians. Too much money is blown on projects like The Public and this culture of spend first and worry about budgets later has to end. West Midlands taxpayers deserve better.”
Chris Kelly, Council Member of The West Midlands TaxPayers’ Alliance said:
“Road pricing and proposals for new green taxes are just another way for politicians to raise revenue. The families and businesses of our region are already over-taxed – especially when you consider how much of our money is routinely wasted. We need a fresh start, not more of the same.”
Mohammed Hasan, a spokesman for The West Midlands TaxPayers’ Alliance said:
“Government is not efficient at spending our money, and we have an ever increasing tax burden which is failing to deliver the benefits we want and need. At a time when many families are struggling to cope with an increase in living costs, lower taxes and greater accountability will make our politicians and bureaucrats focus on the tough but necessary job of reforming their practices and giving value for money.”
For further details, please call: Blair Gibbs, Campaign Director of the TPA (07790 908860); Fiona McEvoy, Campaign Agent of the WMTPA (07736 274704).
Notes for Editors
OPERATIONAL NOTE FOR WEST MIDLANDS TAXPAYERS’ ALLIANCE LAUNCH EVENT:
What? Launch of the regional branch of the TaxPayers’ Alliance. We have over 1,000 supporters in the region and a high-profile council. We will be unveiling a large 55ft poster truck with a bold slogan attacking wasteful spending by politicians.
Who? Council members of the WMTPA will be in attendance along with TPA staff and supporters from around the region. TPA spokesmen and WMTPA council members will be available for interview.
When? 10.30am on Tuesday 31st July 2007 – supporters will be gathering from 10am.
Where? Outside The Public Arts Gallery. 1 Overend Street, West Bromwich, B70 6EY. A map of the location is available here.
Why? THE pUBLIC arts centre is a symbol of waste, mismanagement and unnecessary spending – exactly the kind of project the WMTPA is set up to campaign against in the interest of taxpayers.
Contacts on the day:
Blair Gibbs, TPA Campaign Director
[email protected]
Fiona McEvoy, West Midlands Agent
[email protected]