A big year ahead

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Starting as we mean to continue
First things first, happy new year! It certainly seems like 2024 will be a big year for taxpayers, with a budget in March, a general election due at some point, and a certain very special anniversary too - but more on that later…

It was a busy Christmas period for the TPA team with two new pieces of research released. Kicking things off with a festive twist ([link removed]) , our researchers took a look at what nannying public health officials think of the great Christmas dinner.
Unsurprisingly, NHS guidelines don’t leave you with much on the table; even after stuffing, mulled wine, and gingerbread all fail to make the cut. Click here to read more. ([link removed])

Away from the festivities, TPA wonks were digging into the various charges councils levy ([link removed]) on their residents. From birth and death registrations to parking and waste collections, fees for council services have rocketed in recent years.
Despite rising revenues from many charges, residents across the country regularly have complaints about failing services. On street parking revenues have increased by 26.9 per cent in real terms while waste collection income went up by 74 per cent.

As quoted in the Daily Express our latest findings show ([link removed]) that “taxpayers have seen huge increases in sales, fees and charges for some services but little evidence of increasing service quality in these areas." With surging charges and seemingly ever increasing council tax bills, residents deserve better!

As we enter 2024, the TPA team remains as committed as ever to exposing waste and campaigning for the lower, simpler taxes we so desperately need. All the more so as we’ll also be celebrating 20 years of the TaxPayers’ Alliance. Naturally, we’ve got some big things planned, so watch this space.

If you want to support the work of the TPA in our 20th year and beyond, click here to donate! ([link removed])
TaxPayers' Alliance in the news
Quango staff working from the beach

When a TPA investigation ([link removed]) revealed that staff at various quangos spent almost 10,000 days working abroad, it certainly made waves. Splashing the front page of the Mail on Sunday, we found that 37 quangos had given 1,076 approvals for staff to do their work from the sun lounger.
Elliot Keck, our head of campaigns, blasted the revelations ([link removed]) telling Mail readers: “Taxpayers are sick of the laid back, easy-going attitude that has taken over the public sector. Basic services are inaccessible, yet quangocrats are happy to go the extra mile to top up their tan, but not to deliver for households.” Hear, hear!
Ghost patients

The NHS may not be famed for its data management but even we were shocked to learn that the number of ghost patients ([link removed]) (those who have died or moved to other surgeries but whose records have not been updated) on GP lists has soared by more than 2 million since 2018.
This means that GPs may have been paid £995 million for patients that they don’t treat ([link removed]) . As our policy analyst, Tom Ryan, said in comments that were syndicated to hundreds of media outlets: “When it comes to GP patients, the numbers simply don’t add up… Unless these missing patients can be found, funding for GP practices should be amended accordingly.”
Troubles on the tube

With TFL having just been awarded its seventh bailout ([link removed]) , Londoners are now braced for a week of disruption with no tube service at all for four days, as RMT workers walk out yet again ([link removed]) .
Slamming the latest round of strike action, TPA research director, Darwin Friend, spoke up for taxpayers ([link removed]) : “With TfL overseeing an already bloated pay-bill, hard-pressed taxpayers are bound to wonder how unions can justify this strike. Transport bosses must stand up to unions and deliver a transit system that works, not one that constantly walks out.” Quite right!
Blog of the week
Could innovations in the health service mean a happy new year for taxpayers?

Our first blog of the year ([link removed]) comes to us courtesy of TPA chairman, Mike Denham. Following successful efforts at Guys and St Thomas’ hospital in London to slash waiting lists, Mike asks whether this tactic could be a blueprint for improvements across the NHS?
Using ‘high intensity theatre’ (HIT), Guys and St Thomas have achieved some remarkable results such as conducting three months’ worth of breast cancer operations in just five days. Given that there are additional costs that come with running HIT sessions, Mike observes: “The bottom line is that HIT sounds encouraging. But taxpayers should always be wary of public sector schemes involving extra spending today against vaguely defined promises of efficiency improvements tomorrow. The record is poor.”

Click to Mike’s fantastic analysis in full ([link removed])
War on Waste
With councils consistently claiming to be cash strapped, you might think they would be making every effort to keep spending under control. Sadly, it seems you would be mistaken.

A TPA investigation has revealed that councils splashed out almost £350,000 ([link removed]) sending staff to the MJ awards (glitzy award dinners for councils) since 2019. Town hall bosses must focus taxpayers’ money on the services their residents pay for!

Please send me your examples of wasteful public sector spending (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Wasteful%20spending)

Benjamin Elks
Operations Manager

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