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Play the Chancellor
As the new chancellor puts the finishing touches to his first Budget, the TaxPayers' Alliance has released a new tool ([link removed]) to help those wanting to lower taxes.

Imagine you are the chancellor. Which taxes would you cut and which would you abolish? Our tool allows you to flex your fiscal firepower and reduce the 50-year high tax burden.

You can even share your results on social media or via email as the tool generates a customised link. Click here to play! ([link removed])
Ahead of the Budget we've called on the chancellor to combine income tax and national insurance ([link removed]) . This would put hundreds of pounds back in workers' pockets by matching tax thresholds. It would also be a vital first step in simplifying our very complicated tax code.

We hope that by shining a light on these issues, politicians and journalists have all the ammunition they need to fight for low tax pro-growth policies in this Budget and beyond.

Which taxes did you cut using our game? (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Play%20the%20Chancellor)
The future of the BBC licence fee
On Tuesday, in front of a packed audience, we witnessed a very illuminating discussion between Mark Wallace and Sir Robbie Gibb about the future of the BBC licence fee. If you were unable to attend you can watch a recording here ([link removed]) .
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While you're watching the video we would be very grateful if you would take the time to respond to the consultation on decriminalising TV licence evasion ([link removed]) . We've made a handy tool ([link removed]) to ensure the process take no more than 60 seconds!
TaxPayers' Alliance in the news
Bumper pay rises for MPs

News broke on Thursday that MPs are to receive an inflation-busting 3.1 per cent pay rise ([link removed]) from April 1st. This is even higher than last year's rise of 2.7 per cent which means MPs will see their pay increase from £79,468 to £81,932.
Speaking to talkRadio's Julia Hartley-Brewer about this generous wage boost, our research director Duncan Simpson expressed his concerns about the automatic pay rises awarded to MPs by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.

MPs should remember that an employee in the private sector would typically only expect to see an increase in salary as a reward for performing well. Click here to listen to a clip. ([link removed])

D (mailto:[email protected]?subject=MPs%20pay%20rises) o you think MPs deserve this pay rise? (mailto:[email protected]?subject=MPs%20pay%20rises)

Wasting more 'Monet'

More than £700,000 of taxpayers' cash has been spent transporting artworks around the globe ([link removed]) so they then can take pride of place in embassies, consulates and ambassadors' homes.

Commenting on this preposterous use of taxpayers' cash, our media campaign manager Sam Packer told the Daily Express, “They should be keeping costs as low as practically possible, not splashing the cash to ensure diplomats are surrounded by famous paintings”.
Blog of the week
It will all come out in the whitewash

Now that the dust has settled on the government’s decision to proceed with High Speed 2 (HS2) it’s worth analysing the report that was instrumental in the decision making process. Commissioned by transport secretary Grant Schapps in August 2019, the Oakervee Review was designed to be an independent review into HS2.

Writing for the TPA blog, I have carried out a forensic analysis of the report ([link removed]) and it is fair to say that it is nothing more than a whitewash, written to suit political ends. On every front, from trains per hour to speed and environmental aims, there is simply no positive case to be made for HS2.
Ultimately, this decision will haunt the country for many years to come and it’s the taxpayer who will be left footing the bill for this white elephant. We can only hope that the new minister for HS2 will do everything possible to keep costs from further escalating.
Let me know your thoughts on the Oakervee Review. (mailto:[email protected]?subject=HS2%3A%20Oakervee%20Review)
War on waste

Wonderpass or blunderpass?

Milton Keynes council is planning to spend £75,000 of public funds on the creation of a green ‘wonderpass’ ([link removed]) . The council aims to gentrify an underpass, used by homeless people for shelter, by splashing thousands on installing moss and lichen walls.

Opposition councillors have rightly criticised the plans, one in particular described the 'wonderpasses' as "blunderpasses". Surely it would have been a better use of taxpayers' cash to help those in need rather than the council virtue signalling its green credentials?

Is your local council wasting money on similar schemes? (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Councils%20wasting%20money)

Harry Fone
Grassroots Campaign Manager

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