The TaxPayers' Alliance has produced pioneering research into public spending, taxation and broader economic policy. In areas such as public sector remuneration and quangos, TPA research now represents the definitive primary source used by the media, academics and the public. You can view our reports by subject below, or for... Read more...
If I had a pound for every time I've heard 'if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys' when referring to the pay of senior council officers, I would be much better off than I am now. So I wonder which monkey working for Canterbury City Council devised this little plan?... Read more...
The Adam Smith Institute has published Unburdening Enterprise, a report calling for a package of bold measures to unleash the potential of small and medium business to create jobs and growth: • Abolish employers’ NIC first for small and micro businesses then for medium-sized businesses. • Reverse the 5.6% hike in... Read more...
This infographic from our Fiscal Factbook illustrates the growth of government spending in the UK since 2000 and contrasts it with the OECD average: Read more...
An abridged version of my letter to the Evening Standard in response to their leading editorial on the housing affordability crisis was published today. The full version is copied below: How can two articles and a leader on the housing affordability crisis and the fact that housing supply isn’t nearly... Read more...
The latest twist in the Isles of Scilly Council saga has chief executive Philip Hygate being called before its Policy and Resources Committee on 30th October to discuss his recent conduct, or ‘employment issues’ as they prefer to call it. But islanders will be disappointed that this meeting, which will... Read more...
Today unions and anti-cuts activists led by the TUC are descending on London to argue against necessary spending cuts. The TPA has recently produced a Fiscal Factbook making clear the dire state of the public finances. Individual charts are available for publication The following resources may also be of use in relation... Read more...
This infographic from our Fiscal Factbook illustrates that when you buy £30 of petrol or diesel, £18 goes on Fuel Duty and VAT while only £12 pays for the fuel:To find out more, visit our www.FreezeFuelTax.com campaign and www.tpaTaxBuster.co.uk to download our smartphone app that shows how much tax you... Read more...
Writing for the City A.M Matthew Sinclair Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance looks at the energy tariff debacle.IT is always disappointing for politicians when a confused announcement turns a popular idea into a communications disaster. George Osborne experienced that pain earlier this year when he announced a freeze in fuel... Read more...
Robert Halfon MP has continued his campaigning on fuel prices. He has proposed legislation that would make the taxes more transparent to motorists. The MP for Harlow has submitted a Bill to Parliament that would ensure that customers know exactly how much of their huge petrol and diesel bills is... Read more...
I wrote for the Bow Group's Crossbow magazine on why tax cuts are needed for economic growth.Deficit reduction, the Big Society, NHS reform and free schools; none of these big agendas compare to the importance of the economy because failure on growth is the one thing voters won’t tolerate, irrespective of other achievements. But growth... Read more...
More bad news for Bristol Cllr Tim Kent, recent recipient of our Pinhead of the Month award. The enthusiast for multi-million pound taxpayer funded transport schemes has had to admit that Bristol City Council got it wrong when they introduced a costly stretch of bus lane in Westbury Road in... Read more...
This infographic from our Fiscal Factbook illustrates the top marginal tax rates, including social insurance taxes like employee's National Insurance, across selected competing economies: Read more...
Hull City Council needs to find savings of £33 million over the next two years. As I have previously reported, senior councillors have repeatedly stated they will enter negotiations with the unions on reducing things like the mileage rate paid to staff, which is currently a maximum of 65p per... Read more...
In the first of our infographics series, taken from our Fiscal Factbook, we illustrate the share of national income (middle column) that is earned by various income groups (left column) and the share of income tax that those groups pay (right column): Read more...
This morning there are reports that Justine Greening, the new Secretary of State for International Development, is going to campaign for British taxpayers' money spent on aid through the European Union to be spent in poorer countries. The EU foreign aid budget definitely needs reform. We set out a series... Read more...
Spending on international development projects will exceed the amount spent on front line policing, The Sun reported yesterday. Aid spending will rocket to a staggering £12.6 billion per year by 2014, £500 million more than the £12.1 billion spent on policing. Read more...
Do you remember the Future Shape Programme Manager? If you don't, here is a reminder. North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) filled this post despite criticism coming in from all corners, however Paul Spencer, the man who eventually got the job, left in August for pastures new. He was due to... Read more...
Last month, a most unusual pop concert took place in Manchester, headlined by Grammy Award winner, Alicia Keys. For a start, the gig – MTV Crashes Manchester – took place in the city’s cathedral. But more worryingly, it was entirely funded by taxpayers. That’s right, despite enjoying the branding of the... Read more...
For all the Government’s attempts to present itself as a champion of small business, one industry in particular is being undermined by what is essentially an arm of the state. The previous government’s decision to award the Post Office ‑ owned and heavily subsidised by the government - an exclusive... Read more...
The deputy leader of Cornwall Council has resigned, citing the inability of the authority to control public expenditure in joint ventures with the private sector. In an email to the council leader, Cllr Jim Currie said: ‘I could not leave local government with billions of pounds of Cornish taxpayers’ money... Read more...
All facts and figures correct at the time of researchFront CoverPublic spending, 2012-13 £683,000,000,000 Per day £1,871,232,877 Per hour £77,968,037 Per minute £1,299,467 Per second £21,658 8 seconds £173,262Page 2 (Income Tax Breakdown) HMRC, Shares of total income (before and after tax) and income tax for percentile groups, 1999-00 to... Read more...
Saving money while running local libraries effectively seems to be beyond some councils in Surrey and south London. Surrey County Council is in a sorry mess with its ‘Community Partnered Libraries’ policy. Last year, the council told users of ten smaller libraries, such as Stoneleigh and Ewell Court in Epsom,... Read more...
Last week I commented on Croydon Borough Council's search for a new Equality Officer, paying £37,179 – £38,961 per annum. I wondered at the time if this was a replcement officer, or if they were swelling the ranks. I have the same question today. The same council is now looking... Read more...