They can’t say we didn’t warn them

View this email in your browser ([link removed])
It’s time to act
In a surprise to almost no one (except perhaps the government), this week we had confirmation that the UK economy slipped into recession at the end of 2023. Having endured years of unsustainable spending, dangerous levels of debt, a ballooning public sector, and a record tax burden to pay for it all, the chickens have come home to roost.
But ministers can’t pretend they weren’t warned. For years we’ve been highlighting that the cost of government crisis and ensuing tax burden were hampering growth. Most recently in January, our research ([link removed]) clearly showed the damage a high tax burden has on growth.

Responding to the latest economic setback ([link removed]) , our chief executive, John O’Connell, was unequivocal: “Taxpayers will be right to blame the government for a mess largely of its own making… If ministers hope to restore growth in the long term they need to rein in spending and provide the tax cuts that individuals, families and businesses desperately need.”

If Jeremy Hunt needs any pointers as to where a good place to start would be, our head of research, Darwin Friend, took to the pages of the Express to set out our stall. Darwin offers the chancellor three taxes ripe for cutting that would give a much needed boost to taxpayers: income tax, stamp duty, and inheritance tax. You can read his op-ed here. ([link removed])
The week only got worse for the government from there, as it had to contend with two defeats at the ballot box. TPA wonks were quick to point out in the aftermath that voters don’t like it when governments hike their taxes, with a new research note revealing the huge electoral cost faced by governments that increase the tax burden. Our head of campaigns, Elliot Keck, gives a full rundown of the paper here ([link removed]) .

With the budget just around the corner, possibly the last big fiscal event before the general election, your support is more important than ever. Can you chip in to our campaign ([link removed]) and help deliver the lower, simpler taxes we need?
Cut income tax now!
Continuing our campaign for Jeremy Hunt to cut income tax and raise thresholds in his budget, our team descended on the treasury this week. Braving the wet and windy conditions, we made it clear that taxpayers deserve a break.

As our campaign continues over the next few weeks, we need your help. Sign and share our petition here ([link removed]) and we’ll deliver it to the chancellor in advance of budget day. Make your voice heard by clicking here! ([link removed])
TaxPayers' Alliance in the news
Posters for London

A TPA investigation this week revealed that Transport for London (TFL) splashed out £4.5 million on posters ([link removed]) over the last three years. With many of the posters featuring needless, nannying advice, this hardly seems like the best use of money, particularly since they had their latest bailout ([link removed]) back in December.
Coming hot on the heels of Sadiq Khan announcing “virtue signalling” new names for the overground, TPA researcher, Jonathan Eida, spoke to GB News, ([link removed]) railing: “Londoners are tired of TfL's endless lectures… Transport bosses should focus less on preaching and more on punctuality.”
Spiralling costs of Scottish public inquiries

As previous TPA research ([link removed]) has shown, in their quest for answers, public inquiries can all too often take years to complete and leave taxpayers with a hefty bill. The ballooning costs of “lessons to be learnt” inquiries for Scottish taxpayers was exposed this week, as over £120 million has been spent on the five most recent Scottish inquiries ([link removed]) .
Speaking to the Herald, our investigations campaign manager, Joanna Marchong, slammed the shocking sums ([link removed]) : “It’s too often the case that politicians and pen pushers seek to dodge the blame for their decisions through slow and costly inquiries. The most useful ‘lessons to be learnt’ are in value for money, efficiency and decisiveness.”
Cut through

With the current situation outlined in our lead story this week, it can sometimes feel like no one’s listening to taxpayers. While results may not always be immediate, our work is regularly cited by columnists and opinion writers. We are the go-to group when it comes to research on tax reform or wasteful spending.
In the Telegraph this week, we were pleased to find waste that we’ve uncovered ([link removed]) featuring prominently in a comment piece from Annabel Denham. Highlighting our findings of £10 billion given to global quangos, £150 million in civil service golden goodbyes, and £13 million for NHS diversity roles amongst others, our work is a vital resource in the battle against wasted money. Check out the piece here. ([link removed])
Blog of the week
12 things the government shouldn’t do: Institutions

In the first of a three part series looking at things the government shouldn’t do, our researcher, Callum McGoldrick, uses this week’s blog to look at some of the institutions we’re unnecessarily shelling out cash on ([link removed]) .
One example Callum cites is the FA, who received £100 million from taxpayers in 2021-22. As callum notes: “In the same period, the revenues of the 20 premier league clubs totalled £5.5 billion, with the premier league itself also raising millions. It should not be the job of taxpayers to fund the most popular sport in the world. Rather, the largest organisations of the sport should take responsibility for the grassroots of the sport.” Check out the full blog here. ([link removed])
War on Waste
Despite potentially being on the verge of bankruptcy ([link removed]) , a TPA investigation has revealed that Kent County Council is spending over €11,000 a year on office space in Brussels ([link removed]) .

As Joanna told Guido Fawkes: “Town hall bosses waffle on about over stretched finances yet its clear to see that there is still fat left to be cut. Local authorities should focus spending closer to home.”

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

Benjamin Elks
Grassroots Development Manager

[link removed]

============================================================
** Twitter ([link removed])
** [link removed] ([link removed])
** YouTube ([link removed])
** Website ([link removed])
Copyright © 2024 The TaxPayers' Alliance, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in to receiving our updates, or we have a legitimate interest to contact you about our work.



TaxPayers' Alliance is a trading name of The TaxPayers' Alliance Limited, a company incorporated in England & Wales under company registration no. 04873888 and whose registered office is at 55 Tufton Street, London SW1P 3QL.



You can read our privacy notice here: [link removed]
Our mailing address is:
The TaxPayers' Alliance
55 Tufton Street
London, London SW1P 3QL
United Kingdom
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
.