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We've spent a significant chunk of this year campaigning to keep your town halls running on a full-time basis. From south Cambridgeshire, to Bassetlaw we've been ensuring that wherever these bonkers four-day week experiments pop up, the TPA's campaign team are never far away. Last week we took the fight to Norwich, with a Christmas twist. After the council agreed a motion to “explore the benefits” of a four-day week, it became clear that they were going to be another town hall ignoring the interests of their residents. A part-time council would be an awful Christmas present for taxpayers. But what will Norwich council get for Christmas?
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All was revealed this week as Santa and his elf visited Norwich. In a video snapped by head elf of the TPA, Joe Ventre, Santa (who some believe to be the very author of this bulletin) revealed that the council is on his naughty list, and will be receiving nothing but a lump of coal.
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It's clear that while we have made significant strides in our Stop the Clock Off campaign, there is still going to be much more to do. After all, we are up against councils up and down the country who have proved time and again they care more about themselves than they do about taxpayers.
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TaxPayers' Alliance in the news
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Cost of the covid inquiry
After TPA wonks crunched the numbers and worked out the possible cost of the covid inquiry (a mere ÂŁ156 million!), our head of campaigns Elliot Keck took to the airwaves to channel the frustrations of taxpayers about these spiralling costs.
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Talking to Richard Tice on GB News, Elliot pointed out that currently what taxpayers are getting for this money is “a soap opera more concerned with who set what curse word when.”Â
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An unhappy new year for Nottingham taxpayers
After Nottingham city council declared bankruptcy, we were quick out the blocks to warn that it would be taxpayers left to pick up the pieces, highlighting the recent examples of Croydon, Thurrock and Slough where council tax rose by above the normal maximum. Right on schedule, Nottingham’s leader has said the local authority would “have to consider” raising council tax above 5 per cent, if they were allowed to do so.
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In comments to the Nottingham Post, our chief executive John O’Connell spoke for concerned residents, saying: “Local taxpayers rightly worry they will have to pick up the tab for years of shocking mismanagement and risk-taking by town hall bosses."
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Time is running out for the British economy
Taxpayers will rightly be looking forward to a much-needed tax cut in the new year, when 2p is lopped off national insurance. But as we have pointed out, the tax burden is still heading for a record high, a point rightly made in a front page story in City AM.
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John couldn’t have put it better when he warned readers that “time is running out for the British economy. Unless there is urgent action to address record tax levels, our chances of high growth may be irrevocably damaged.”
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Beyond the capital - civil servants’ shift to regional offices sparks big debates
In this week’s blog, TPA intern, Penny Hampden-Turner explores comments from ministers about moving civil servants out of London. She gives the policy a thumbs up but points out that while the policy in itself makes fiscal sense, it doesn't address the bigger issue that is the ever-growing size of the civil service.Â
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As Penny explains: “As recent figures show, GDP has fallen in October. With the current excess of government spending, it is no wonder these figures are disappointing. An oversized state and record tax burdens are suffocating the economy and growth is suffering as a result … While moving workers outside of London is a step in the right direction, it is not enough. To really promote growth and level up all parts of the UK, we need to shrink the size of the state and reduce taxes.”
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Motorists unhappy with the 20mph speed limits being imposed across Oxfordshire were shocked to learn this week that the council is spending taxpayers’ cash on promoting the policy to their own children. The county council has spent a staggering ÂŁ10,000 on colouring books for children.Â
This includes stickers, word searches, colouring sheets and spot the difference puzzles, all promoting the policy. Taxpayers expect councils to give justified explanations to their policy changes instead of doubling down on pointless gimmicks.Â
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Benjamin Elks
Operations Manager
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