Southend on Sea was the battleground for the latest Taxpayers’ Alliance skirmish against high taxes and government overspend. Local TPA veteran Eddie was joined by grassroots campaign manager Jennifer Salisbury-Jones, volunteer Anthony Ward and policy analyst Harry Fairhead. Read more...
A new study from two Australian scientists suggests that the plain packaging of cigarettes, which has been mandatory down under since 2012, has made no difference to the total consumption of cigarettes since it has been introduced. Despite the “econometric efforts” of the researchers, “the data refused to yield any... Read more...
There is a theory that a problem expands in proportion to the time that is dedicated to it. Public spending is often like this. The attitude of “something must be done” only leads to an escalation of spending such that when the money runs out, everyone suddenly wonders how things... Read more...
The TaxPayers' Alliance have joined TaxpayerScotland to bring the low tax message North of the border. Read more...
Welcome to the new website of the TaxPayers’ Alliance. For ten years, we’ve been protecting taxpayers and making the case for lower taxes and more effective spending. We’ve done it with a small team in Westminster, grassroots co-ordinators across the country, and dedicated volunteers. Now, with our new website, we... Read more...
University of Bristol students gathered at the King’s Arms in Whiteladies Road, a favourite pub with local students, to hear a TPA talk about the past – and future – of the campaign. Many of our past successes have been achieved with the help of students, especially on issues they... Read more...
John O’Connell wrote a letter to the Times in response to an article by Paul Johnson of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, who argued that the tax take may need to go up to close the deficit. John said that it would be far better to cut out wasteful spending,... Read more...
Every year, when we publish data on the number of full-time union representatives whose salaries are paid for by taxpayers, various individuals in our public conversation tell us that we’re just being sensationalist. Indeed they tell us¸ as the National Union of Teachers have, that “facility time for trade union... Read more...
The UK’s system of public bodies is inconsistent, overlapping, confused, cluttered and ultimately lacks accountability. Taxpayers need to know what is going on, but it is often a monumental task for even the most dedicated researcher to know who reports to whom – that’s the conclusion of a new report... Read more...
At Business Questions to the Leader of the House, David Nuttall MP cited our paper on aid effectiveness, which revealed that foreign aid is failing to increase freedom in the developing world. Read more...
Good news for motorists! The chancellor is “watching very carefully” to make sure fuel companies reduce petrol prices to reflect the recent drop in oil prices. But the reason pump prices remain high is because the biggest chunk of the price paid at the pump is tax. And tax on tax.... Read more...
Devon parents are questioning the cost of building a new school in their village.Refreshingly, they are saying that the £2.6m offered by the government is too much and a waste of taxpayers’ money. A tenth of that sum is all that is needed to refurbish their much-loved school—but central government... Read more...
The issue of taxpayer-backed World Bank loans to Argentina keeps turning up like a bad penny. Read more...
The worst secret in British politics is exposed again today, as the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AMRC) suggests waste in the NHS has hit unacceptable levels. Read more...
Once again we have cause to question the business sense of Thanet District Council. Ramsgate Port still lies unused by any ferry operator with no takers – unless you include the highly controversial live animal exports that the council itself would rather not have. Read more...
As we reported last week, a report form the Independent Commission on Aid Impact rated DfID’s strategy towards tackling corruption in recipient countries as seriously flawed. Read more...
We wrote yesterday about the Annual Tax Summaries hitting doormats this week, and today our Chief Executive Jonathan Isaby writes for the Daily Mail on what we can find out from them. Read more...
This week sees a quiet revolution, as the first Annual Tax Summaries hit the doormats of some 24 million people. Read more...
In theory, there’s nothing not to like. The planned new “Garden Bridge” across the Thames will no doubt be a striking addition to the capital’s already stacked roster of tourist attractions. Read more...
A new report from the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI), the watchdog tasked with monitoring Britain’s aid spending abroad, has found that UK taxpayers’ money is fuelling corruption in recipient countries. Read more...
Writing in the Times today, David Cameron made a moral case for cutting taxes. Good. It’s not heard often enough. Read more...
Henry Smith MP raised recent TaxPayers’ Alliance research, undertaken by Harry Phibbs, at Prime Minister’s Questions today in the House of Commons. He asked David Cameron to address the fact that public sector unions are enjoying subsidised office space up and down the country. Read more...
Today saw the publication of a quietly damning National Audit Office report into the ability, or lack thereof, of the Department for Transport to effectively analyse large-scale transport projects. Read more...
“These things can happen” is the lame excuse given by the leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council (B&NES), Paul Crossley to the news that work has halted on four major roadworks in and around Bath. Just weeks before the city’s busiest time of the year for shopping, the delays... Read more...