A Gordon Brown-style budget
On Wednesday all eyes were on chancellor Rishi Sunak who delivered his first budget. Our research and media teams analysed proceedings closely and reacted quickly to ensure our response was picked up by many news outlets, notably the Daily Telegraph and Express.

Following years of sustained campaigning by the TPA there were some welcome wins on measures like the freezing of alcohol and fuel duties. Thanks to our efforts politicians realise they can't get away with hiking sin and green taxes.
However, taken as a whole this was basically a Gordon Brown-style budget of eye-watering bumper borrowing, a higher tax burden and billions in spending bungs.

With the tax burden already at a 50 year high and the impact of coronavirus yet to be taken into account, the unfortunate truth is that it’s future taxpayers who will lose out by being expected to pay for the massive public sector borrowing.
Grassroots news
With the news that local elections in England will be postponed until May 2021, the TaxPayers' Alliance is calling on Warwick District Council to stop its planned 34 per cent rise in council tax. Taxpayers will be charged the increase despite the referendum being delayed for over a year.
It's fundamentally undemocratic that taxpayers will be lumped with a rate rise they haven't had the chance to vote on. In the midst of the coronavirus crisis the last thing local residents need is even more strain on their already over-burdened bank balances.

The council should do the right thing; immediately halt this inflation-busting rise and wait for residents to have their say at the referendum.
 
Help us axe the TV tax
Many thanks to everyone who has already used our handy tool to take part in the government's consultation on decriminalising TV licence evasion.

Please send a response if you haven't done so already, it only takes a few moments.
 
TaxPayers' Alliance in the news
Reviewing the news

On Tuesday our chief executive John O'Connell sat down with talkRadio's Julia Hartley-Brewer and solicitor Mark Kennedy to discuss the day's big news stories.

On the economy John restated the case that taxes are far too high and called on chancellor Rishi Sunak to give Brits a much needed boost to their bank balances.
Foreign criminals to be deported

A tough new crackdown by the Home Office will see foreign criminals removed from Scottish prisons and deported. According to The Scottish Mail on Sunday, "there are 371 foreign nationals in Scottish prisons and it costs an estimated £35,585 a year to house one – a total annual bill to taxpayers of £13.2 million."
Giving his views on the news our media campaign manager Sam Packer expressed support, "It is absolutely right to try to reduce the amount of taxpayer money spent on foreign criminals."
 
Blog of the week
Standing up for local taxpayers

Regular readers will recall that TPA local coordinator and town councillor Charles Amos took a stand over council tax rises in East Grinstead, West Sussex. He was subsequently booted out of the Conservative group he represented and now sits as an independent member.

In a blog for the TPA he explains why he spoke out against council tax rises and calls on others across the country to do the same. He writes, "If councillors wish to do the best for their local residents they ought to slash taxes and allow people to decide what they value most. But it’s only going to happen if they have the conviction to do so."
As part of his commitment to keep tax as low as possible, Charles has recently handed back a portion of his councillor allowances. When I spoke to him on Thursday he explained the allowances are very generous and a recent increase was unnecessary, a further burden on hard working local taxpayers.

Let's hope other politicians, be it at local or national government level, follow his lead. It's great to see one of our young volunteers taking such positive steps for taxpayers.
 
War on waste
A lorry load of trouble

Conwy council is under fire for taking out a 35 years lease on a HGV depot that is unfit for purpose. Before signing the deal they failed to realise that the floors are not strong enough to hold their vehicles.

After realising the scale of their blunder, the council has been in frantic negotiations to get out of the contract. If the landlord doesn't budge, taxpayers will be funding the building until 2031 at a cost of £3.6 million. This money could have been used to boost funding to frontline services or even given back to local residents in the form of a tax cut.

Residents are right to expect heads to roll yet no one at the council has taken the rap for this catastrophe. The council must improve its procurement procedures to ensure mistakes are avoided in future.

Harry Fone
Grassroots Campaign Manager
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