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TPA fights the rise in Herefordshire
On Saturday the TPA descended on Herefordshire to campaign against a planned 4 per cent rise in council tax. Supporters in the area notified us about the inflation-busting rise and following conversations with local councillors we realised it would pass unchallenged unless we acted.

The grassroots and research teams sprung into action and we soon made some startling discoveries. Despite the council having reserves of over £230 million and owning loss making company Hoople Ltd, it is hard-pressed taxpayers that are left footing the bill.
The message on the ground was clear, locals are fed up with years and years of council tax rises. Many were staggered that the council has such large reserves but has consistently failed to build a much needed local bypass. Our campaign was reported in many local newspapers and even heard on BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester news bulletins.

Key facts:
* The average household will pay an extra £60.60 per year.

* Between 1999 and 2020 there have been 19 increases in council tax.

* Going into 2017-18 the council increased its reserves by £135 million.

* Last year, Herefordshire Council had reserves of over £230 million.

* The council owns £2.8 million of artwork and it is unclear how many are on public display.

* Council-owned Hoople Ltd has made losses of nearly £1.8 million in just 8 years.

By managing funds more efficiently the council could avert large rises in council tax. We have succeeded in building a tidal wave of pressure on local councillors. We are urging them to vote against the proposed budget and find an alternative to reduce the burden on hard-pressed taxpayers.

The campaign in Herefordshire will continue. The TaxPayers' Alliance has to battle these unprecedented rises every step of the way. Please support our campaign. ([link removed])

There are more taxpayer battles ahead - click here to help us fight tax rises across the country ([link removed])
TPA visits English Riviera to deliver low tax message
Our chief executive John O’Connell, and development manager Milly Skriczka, were also on the road this weekend. Invited to address the South West Conservatives’ conference, they took the opportunity to visit some TPA supporters in their offices and homes in Devon along their route.

John addressed more than 250 conference delegates on Saturday in sunny Torquay, setting out the TPA's recommendations for lower taxes. He gave them an overview of The Single Income Tax report ([link removed]) , as well as making the case for immediate term tax cuts over big spending hikes.

As John said in Torquay, the dynamic impacts of tax cuts would be strongly felt over the coming years, growing the economy and providing ample resources for public services.
John told the Conservatives that they mustn't patronise their new found support by assuming all it wants is huge spending hikes. As we know from TPA polling, those on the lowest incomes back tax cuts ([link removed]) , often more vehemently than the well-heeled professional classes. The Q&A following John’s speech allowed many delegates to raise their concerns about taxes, business rates and more.
TPA warns prime minister about HS2
This week our chief executive John O'Connell sent a direct letter to the prime minister ([link removed]) laying out the case for scrapping HS2. We urged Boris to invest in a national programme of transport infrastructure instead. The schemes we have identified would directly benefit provincial English towns in the Midlands and North.

You can read the letter in full here ([link removed]) but some of the key points are laid out below.
* Initial and official cost estimates have been consistently wrong. Eventual costs could be closer to £150 billion.

* HS2 is the only major project to have received seven Amber/Red warnings in a row since 2013 from the Infrastructure and Projects Authority

* The official HS2 business case shows that almost half, 43 per cent, of the benefits go to London and the South East.

* Claims that sunk costs total £11 billion are over-inflated, based on assumptions about land sales and the value of existing contracts. A more realistic figure is in the region of £6 billion.

* The Great British Transport Competition ([link removed]) selected 28 winning transport projects. The sum total of their construction costs came to £45.1 billion, approximately half the cost of HS2.

The intervention was snapped up by the Daily Mail, featuring prominently in both online and print editions ([link removed]) . With a decision expected this month we urge the prime minister to be bold and put an end to this vanity project once and for all.
Should the prime minister scrap HS2? (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Should%20the%20prime%20minister%20scrap%20HS2)
TaxPayers' Alliance in the news
Decriminalising the licence fee
After a month long campaign which began during the general election ([link removed]) , the government heeded our call for decriminalising non-payment of the BBC licence fee ([link removed]) . Currently people who fail to pay face fines of up to £1,000 and even prison.
Speaking to talkRadio I told presenter Matthew Wright that the TaxPayers' Alliance very much welcomes this long overdue step. Whilst the BBC produces some very good content, the funding model simply isn't fit for the 21st century. Consumer habits have changed significantly in recent years. This is why we have launched our campaign, Axe The Tax, to scrap the fee. Click here to listen to a clip. ([link removed])

The TaxPayers' Alliance is taking on one of its biggest fights to date and we intend to win!
The gas-guzzling Government Car Service

The TPA's relentess freedom of information requests revealed that government ministers are being chauffeur-driven in petrol and diesel vehicles despite pledges by the prime minister to cut emissions.
The revelations were covered in the Sunday Mirror by political editor Nigel Nelson: "Of 83 vehicles in the Government Car Service fewer than half are electric, petrol/electric hybrids or hydrogen powered...since 2012 99 new cars ordered include 24 Jags, 22 Toyotas, 29 Fords and six Land Rover Discoveries."

Commenting on the findings our research director Duncan Simpson said: “A solution would be to sell off the non-eco fleet and limit the car service to those at the top.” Currently there is a ratio of two cars to every member of the cabinet.
Blog of the week
Britain’s hollow high streets

Last month, during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the chancellor confirmed the Digital Services Tax will come into force in April 2020. Writing for the blog this week TPA researcher Islay Aitchison argues that it won't help Britain's hollow high streets ([link removed]) . She writes:

"...stores are pushed into charging more [for their products] by corporation tax and business rates. If the government really wants to assist the high street, then it should rule out rises in business rates and alter the rating system to exempt the value of buildings and improvements. ([link removed]) "
Do you agree with our proposals for Britain's high streets? (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Britain's%20high%20streets)
War on waste
TPA local coordinator stands up for taxpayers

Regular readers may remember TPA local coordinator Charles Amos who has been a champion of eradicating wasteful spending and keeping taxes low. In May 2019 Charles was elected as Conservative town councillor for East Grinstead (West Sussex) on a manifesto promise to "Keep Council Tax down".

Despite his best efforts, the council recently decided to increase their council tax precept by 6 per cent, the largest rate in over 15 years. Charles spoke out against the rise and has subsequently been expelled from the Conservative group. The TPA backed Charles all the way and we congratulate for him standing by his principles.
Speaking to Charles earlier in the week, he said he will now sit as an "independent conservative and continue to push for lower taxes and waste reduction on the council". I am pleased to report he is already off to an excellent start and has committed to hand back a recent increase in his councillor’s allowance.

We need more people like Charles and the TPA stands ready to train a new generation of taxpayer-friendly councillors who will fight tooth and nail for the ratepayer.
Do you agree with Charles? Was he right to fight this council tax rise? (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Charles%20Amos)

Harry Fone
Grassroots Campaign Manager

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