This morning the National Audit Office released its report into the measurement of deliverability of major projects. There is considerable concern that the government has a poor track record on major projects and the report finds that there has been progress but there are still problems. Only 4 of 73... Read more...
Now that we're back and in full swing for 2016 it's time to look back at the highlights of the last year. 2015 was a great year for the TaxPayers' Alliance, the highlights of which you'll know all about if you receive our weekly email. (If you missed out then... Read more...
If you follow us on Facebook, Twitter or even LinkedIn you may have noticed we’ve been sharing and commenting on a number of stories involving the 2000 Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and using hashtags such as #SaveFOI. The Freedom of Information Act is an important part of our current political... Read more...
Yesterday the NAO released a report on the trends in UK Official Development Assistance (ODA, which confirmed that we have hit our 0.7% of GNI spending target. But foreign aid has a poor track record. TPA research showed that development aid is doing little to improve freedom in lower income... Read more...
Ian King writes in today’s Times (£) on the ten ways he would simplify the tax system - a topic the TPA has talked about a lot over the past few years. Merging Income Tax and National Insurance would be a very positive step to bring simplicity and much greater transparency to... Read more...
With all too sad regularity, we at the TPA comment on egregious pay-offs for those leaving extremely well paid posts in the public sector – people whose remuneration packages are entirely funded by us taxpayers. And today another example of another obscene golden goodbye has hit our radar. But this... Read more...
Jonathan Isaby writes for the Telegraph about the responses from public sector bodies to Independent Commission on Freedom of Information consultation. Many local councils and other public bodies called for the Act to be watered down - needless to day, the TPA disagrees: Anyone who believes in the importance of being... Read more...
Back in 2011, we commented on a certain public interest story surrounding Perth and Kinross Council, or more specifically, their attractive council HQ sat on the banks of the River Tay. The local authority had spent nearly £50,000 on renovating a second floor office into a meeting room. How did... Read more...
The discussion of the cost of living is often framed as families not having enough money to get by. But why is this the case? True, wages have been stagnant until relatively recently, but equally inflation has been historically low. So the answer cannot just be that we are being... Read more...
The Times and the Sunday Times have reported on a measure mentioned in the fine print of last week’s Autumn Statement, but one which was legislated for beforehand. As of the 21st October 2015, if a company receives restitution from HMRC, the interest element of that award is subject to... Read more...
More harsh words come today for the NHS’s 111 helpline, this time in the form of a damning critique on page two of The Times. A study by the University of Cambridge, the results of which feature in the paper today, involved recruiting a GP to review the outcomes of... Read more...
Increased taxation, censorship, price controls and centralisation. The proposals included in the report “Childhood obesity—brave and bold action” constitute what may be described as a nanny state full house. “Reflecting the evidence we heard, we have made recommendations in nine differentareas. No one single area offers a solution in itself,... Read more...
"Tax reform and simplification" was the subject of an interesting panel debate last Thursday night at the Institute of Directors. I made the case for abolishing stamp duty (both on commercial property and share transactions) for business taxes, and the top rate of tax for personal tax. Also on the panel... Read more...
Council Assets This year the TaxPayers’ Alliance released a substantial piece of research on assets owned by local authorities, including some unusual ones such as, including golf courses, hotels, and even a wet fish stall. In yesterday’s Spending Review the government committed to help councils manage their asset portfolios and... Read more...
Earlier this month the groundbreaking Public Sector Rich List - a collaboration between the TaxPayers’ Alliance and Daily Mail - revealed the full scale of high pay in the public sector. A key part of this project was our annual town hall rich list which gives details just how many... Read more...
Another Spending Plan policy victory for the TaxPayers' Alliance in the Spending Review. Policy 25 states: "Transport for London plans indicate that it is expecting operating grants to fall from £874 million to £704 million in 2015–16 before rising steadily to £756 million in 2019–20. Meanwhile, it expects its fares income to rise... Read more...
A busy week in Westminster and we were on hand to give immediate reaction to the Autumn Statement and Spending Review. Our Chief Executive, Jonathan Isaby, was in Birmingham after the announcements to share his disappointment at what is a missed opportunity by the Chancellor. You can see his full... Read more...
Today is George Osborne’s big day at the despatch box as he steps forward to give, what is in effect, his fourth budget address in twelve months. It has been mooted in many of the papers (The Daily Mirror, Financial Times, The Telegraph, the Guardian and even on the BBC website)... Read more...
Taxpayers will be overjoyed – Ed Miliband is using his front bench retirement to once again make the foray into domestic energy policy. In his latest intervention, a week before the climate change summit in Paris, Ed has called for the existing target of cutting emissions by 80 per cent... Read more...
Today's Times editorial says that George Osborne must continue to reduce spending. This is particularly urgent given yesterday's awful borrowing figures; the public finances are not in a good shape and more needs to be done to correct that. Next week's Spending Review will be difficult for the Chancellor, given... Read more...
The latest ONS statistics of Hours and Earnings show that public sector pay has grown faster than pay in the private sector. Rising by 1.8 per cent compared to 1.6 per cent in the private sector, public sector workers now earn on average £588.90 per week compared to just £501.20... Read more...
Following the publication last week of our most comprehensive ever Public Sector Rich List, it is clear that our landmark research into the pay, perks, pensions and pay-offs of those at the top of the public sector has not only set the news agenda, but is directly influencing government policy. Working... Read more...
We have had some great coverage of our Public Sector Rich List so here are some of the highlights: We had a hat-trick of front pages from the Daily Mail covering Town halls, the NHS and the Police services and a double page spread on high pay in the state education... Read more...
On Monday Zac Goldsmith called for Transport for London to be classified as an 'important public service' so that 40 per cent of the entire workforce must vote 'yes' to strike action before a Tube strike is permitted the Evening Standard reports. This would hold the Tube to the same... Read more...