Ed Miliband’s new taxes are “lazy and dangerous”
Responding to Labour’s plans to introduce a number of taxes and increase spending on the National Health Service, Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: Read more...
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A Mansion Tax is a very bad idea
And here’s why: Read more...
Tim Newark speaks to Exeter students during Freshers’ Week
Students dressed as pirates, cartoon characters and much more besides wandering along the streets of Exeter — it had to be Freshers’ Week! More soberly dressed University of Exeter students gathered for a Freshers’ Week TPA event at the Imperial pub, a favourite with local students for many years and... Read more...
As Scotland votes no, we demand change to the Barnett Formula
Scots receive over £1,600 per person more in public spending Lord Barnett, the former minister who devised the formula, called it a “terrible mistake” and “national embarrassment” TPA also calls for a change to Scottish MPs’ voting rights in Westminster Read more...
Expensive ‘shared space’ in Bath?
The Council in Bath is planning to spend £1.2m of taxpayers’ money on a ‘shared space’ in the city centre, which according to reports will consist primarily of levelling pavements and kerbs along several streets, and re-paving the area. Now, I can’t say I’ve noticed local residents or traders clamouring for this... Read more...
Discovering the limits of FOI legislation
For the last year, Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES) Council have repeatedly refused to answer my Freedom of Information (FoI) requests about an alleged matter of wrongdoing by a senior local government officer involving taxpayers’ money. I am now in the process of appealing against their stonewalling. My experience... Read more...
What’s going on in Wroughton?
There is a phantom national museum in southwest England that is supported with taxpayers’ money – and yet taxpayers can only visit by appointment! What is going on? Read more...
Revealed: The taxpayer-funded £108 million trade union subsidy
New research by the TPA can reveal that trade unions received at least £108 million in subsidies from taxpayers in 2012-13, just £5 million less than in 2011-12. Read more...
Assessing MoD manpower
A report by the Public Accounts Committee released today has accused the Government of botching the restructuring of the Army. Read more...
Our Research Informs the Stamp Duty Debate
Dominic Raab, the Conservative MP for Esher & Walton, quoted TaxPayers’ Alliance research in his piece on the “rapacious impact” of Stamp Duty in the Daily Telegraph today. Read more...
Announcing ThinkTent 2014 at Conservative Party Conference
We’re delighted to announce that together with the Institute of Economic Affairs, Business for Britain, and the Free Enterprise Group of Conservative MPs, the TaxPayers’ Alliance will be hosting ThinkTent 2014 at this year’s Conservative Party Conference, kindly supported by Mastercard. Read more...
“Unusual” decisions at Salford Council under the spotlight
This morning saw Salford Council’s Audit Committee meet to discuss the findings of an internal report into the exact circumstances of a £164,000 taxpayer-funded “bailout” paid to the local rugby league club, Salford Red Devils, in 2013. Read more...
“White Elephant” Scheme Comes Under Fire in Bristol
Bristol residents are angry at a £200m “white elephant” bus scheme that won narrow approval at a council meeting. Read more...
NEW RESEARCH: The taxman chases you all the way to the departure gate
New research from the TaxPayers’ Alliance shows that punishingly high taxes on holiday items, insurance and flights have forced up the cost of a holiday abroad by £50 to every holidaymaker in Britain. Read more...
War on Waste hits Southend-on-Sea
TPA activists visited Southend-on-Sea yesterday as part of our national War on Waste campaign. Read more...
Facebook page provokes Council backlash in Berwick
Berwick Town Council has spent £1,511 threatening a Councillor over a facebook page exposing the alleged misuse of Council powers and funds, it is claimed. Read more...
Planning costs pile up for Mike Watts
Good news to see that B&NES council leader Paul Crossley is finally congratulating Mike Watts for building his Kelston Toll Road and helping thousands of local drivers overcome the disruption caused by the closure of a short stretch of the A431. Read more...
“Tax Now, Die Later” – A Letter to the Editor
In response to yesterday’s Daily Telegraph story, “Savers could pay death tax while they are still living,”, our Chief Executive was published in Letters to the Editor today. Read more...
Bath toll road hero hit by Council charges
Mike Watts has hit national headlines for building the first toll road in England for 100 years – and he did it because Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES) Council have been too slow to re-open a vital section of the A431 between Bristol and Bath. So I went to visit him... Read more...
Cardiff Says No To Sugar Tax
Supporters of the Taxpayers’ Alliance were in Cardiff on Saturday campaigning against Plaid Cymru’s proposed tax on fizzy drinks. With our stall set up on ‘The Hayes’ during the annual Cardiff Carnival, we got to meet many local people and visitors shocked to hear about the punitive measures being taken to... Read more...
War on Waste rolls into Canterbury
Yesterday The TaxPayers’ Alliance took the War on Waste to Canterbury. Stationed outside the Beaney Library we split off into pairs to cover as much of the street as we could, thankful for the excellent weather despite forecasts to the contrary. Read more...
Road repairs drive taxpayers up the wall
South West TPA supporter Malcolm Leaver has been doggedly pursuing his local council for information on the cost to the taxpayer of street repairs in his neighbourhood—but has been given the run around by a South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) reluctant to cough up the details. Read more...
New laws make council hearings more transparent
Today sees Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, sign into law new rules banning councils from forbidding citizens and journalists from reporting council proceedings in blogs and on social media. Read more...
Scrap ‘sneaky’ National Insurance, says PwC Citizens’ Jury
PwC senior economist and former Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee member Andrew Sentance has called for political parties to embrace a ‘serious tax overhaul’ in an article for the Telegraph. The ‘Citizens’ Jury’ convened by the consulting group recommended substantial tax reform which echoes much of the findings of our... Read more...