This week, we launched our latest campaign, calling on the chancellor to give hard-pressed taxpayers a break and cut income tax in his upcoming budget.
As our chief executive, John O’Connell, highlighted in his op-ed last week, the recent cut to national insurance has been more than offset by the freezing of income tax thresholds. This freeze is dragging more and more workers into tax brackets originally intended to apply only to the better-off.
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It’s been a tough time for taxpayers. The 70-year high tax burden, combined with the cost of living crisis, has left many hard-working Brits struggling to make ends meet. That’s why we’re launching this campaign. It’s time to give taxpayers a break.Â
In a video to launch the campaign, our investigations campaign manager, Joanna Marchong, explains: “Brits simply want to keep more of their hard-earned money to cover their bills and pay for the weekly shop.” Watch the video in full below!
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Ministers can take a vital step in reducing the record-high tax burden by cutting the headline rates or unfreezing the thresholds, delivering welcome relief to taxpayers and giving our economy a much needed shot in the arm.Â
In the coming weeks, we’ll be releasing research, taking to the airwaves, and making the case for lower taxes directly to politicians.Â
We need your help. To force Jeremy Hunt’s hand, we need as many of you as possible to sign our petition which we will hand-deliver to the treasury in advance of the budget. Share the petition with your friends and family to make it as clear as possible to the chancellor that Brits have had enough! With your help, we will win this battle! Sign the petition here.
TPA campaigns are only made possible by the generosity of our supporters. If you want to back our campaign and support our work today, click here to donate.
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TaxPayers' Alliance in the news
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Public sector wasting ÂŁ10 billion every year
This week, the head of the National Audit Office, Gareth Davies, confirmed what supporters of the TPA have known for a long time - the public sector is squandering huge amounts of taxpayers’ cash every year by failing to improve its productivity. Mr Davies put the figure at an eye-watering £10 billion a year.
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Responding to the admission, our research director, Darwin Friend, blasted the inexcusable waste telling Telegraph readers: “If there is to be any hope of remedying poor public services and soaring expenditure, ministers must embrace productivity-boosting solutions across government.”
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An alternative for Aunty
With news that 130 people are being prosecuted every day for not paying the BBC licence fee, our digital campaign manager, Joe Ventre, spoke to TalkTV, explaining that there is an alternative to the hated TV tax.
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Citing previous TPA research, Joe told viewers: “What we would like to see is a complete reform of the system that jettisons the licence fee altogether - A really slimmed down BBC which retains those core BBC services that we all know… Here we are in the 2020s still clinging on to this archaic system.” Watch Joe’s full segment here.
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NHS splashing the cash on woke non-jobs
It’s emerged that the NHS is shelling out over £40 million on roles with diversity-related responsibilities. The revelations come at a time when record numbers of patients languish on waiting lists.
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Speaking to the Daily Express, I made clear what taxpayers expect: “While waiting lists spiral, poverty-pleading trusts should be directing all available resources to frontline care. It’s time for the health service to prioritise patients over political correctness.”
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Channel 4 should be sold before it’s too late
With Channel 4 bosses using a recent select committee appearance to discuss their falling advertisement revenues, Joanna has taken a look at what should be done with the country’s second state owned broadcaster in this week’s blog.
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With Channel 4 hanging like a sword of Damocles over the heads of taxpayers, as Joanna observes: “If the channel were to be sold while it still has value, it could generate revenue for the exchequer in the billions. Not only would this free taxpayers of an asset on a downward trajectory, but it would give Channel 4 the resources and space it needs to truly compete in the modern commercial market.”
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This week’s war on waste story really lives up to its name. Local bosses at Waltham Forest council have splashed £7,600 on 12 high-tech, heated, remote-controlled toilet seats. Yes, you read that correctly.
These luxury loos leave a bad smell in the air for local residents who faced a 4.99 per cent council tax rise last year and look set for the same this year. Town halls must get down to business and focus on delivering affordable services for ratepayers, not cushy commodes for council staff.
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Benjamin Elks
Grassroots Development Manager
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