With conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, the Houthis targeting shipping lanes, and sabre rattling in Asia, itâs clear the world isnât quite as safe as it used to be.Â
In answer to this, the prime minister announced ÂŁ75 billion of extra defence spending over the next six years whilst on a visit to Poland, boosting the defence budget to 2.5 per cent of GDP. Declaring that the United States canât be expected to keep picking up the tab for European security, Rishi Sunak pledged to put the UK defence industry âon a war footing.â
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Can simply increasing the budget make Britainâs defence fit for the challenges of today? William Yarwood, our media campaign manager, took a look at this very question just last week in a must-read blog post. As William noted, the problems run substantially deeper: âour military suffers from a ÂŁ17bn black hole in its own equipment plan and defence projects are consistently over-budget and over-schedule⊠until our political establishment gets to grips with our failed system we should question calls to increase the defence budget.â
Our chief executive, John OâConnell, made this point to readers of the Daily Express: âIn a time of escalating global threats, taxpayers will appreciate the need for a boost to the UKâs military capabilities. But the ministry of defenceâs recent record doesnât inspire optimism that extra funding will be used as efficiently and effectively as the public expects.â
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Setting aside the effectiveness of more spending, we also need to ask where the money will come from. Part of the proposals include cutting civil service numbers back to pre-pandemic levels. TPA research has previously shown the dramatic increase in Whitehall pen-pushers and itâs well past time these numbers were cut back.Â
Defence of the realm is undoubtedly one of the key functions of government and few would question the professionalism and bravery of the armed forces. Sadly though, as with so many other areas, the Ministry of Defence has failed to deliver the value for money that taxpayers, and more importantly the military, deserve. Sunak must ensure this new money delivers the security we need and doesnât simply disappear into the Whitehall blackhole.
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TaxPayers' Alliance in the news
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Council epidemic
Following last weekâs announcement that ministers plan a crackdown on Britainâs sick-note culture, you can only imagine our surprise when we learned that the number of council staff on long-term sick leave has soared by a fifth since the pandemic.
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As our head of research, Darwin Friend, told Telegraph readers: âThe public sector posts far higher sick leave than the private sector, which is shocking given hours tend to be shorter, annual leave is more generous, and flexible working is more common.â Town halls need to ensure ratepayersâ generosity isnât being abused and bring the level of those signed off into line with the private sector.
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ULEZ repair bill
Sadiq Khanâs efforts to squeeze every drop out of motorists may be costing Londoners up to ÂŁ17.6 million for fixing ULEZ cameras. The hated scheme has been repeatedly targeted by vandals leaving taxpayers to pick up the tab.
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Our head of campaigns, Elliot Keck, gave the news both barrels telling the Sun: âWhile criminal damage is never acceptable, this is an unnecessary cost from a scheme designed to milk motorists dry.â Whoever wins the London mayoral election next week should give motorists and taxpayers a break by scraping ULEZ.
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On the hook for Hamza
In pursuit of early release from a US prison, hate preacher Abu Hamza has bragged that Brits will support him with free healthcare and money to live.Â
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Having none of it, William rightly told âCaptain Hookâ where he can go: âTaxpayers are sick of being insulted by this tinpot terrorist⊠Far from offering a helping hand, the Home Office should slam the door in his face.â
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The Rwanda plan: is it really worth it?
With the Rwanda bill finally getting through parliament this week, Elliot has taken a look at whether the plan will actually deliver value for money for taxpayers, particularly given the extraordinary sums involved.
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As Elliot notes, âwhatâs crystal clear is that Rwanda is far from the budget optionâ but taxpayers deserve âclear evidence that it is a solution, and not just a gimmick from a government determined to appear like itâs gripped the problem.â Check out the blog in full here.
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As regular readers will know, local authorities are not generally bastions of efficiency. Every now and then though, even we are surprised at how they manage to squander ratepayersâ cash.Â
Peterborough city council have managed to run up a bill of more that ÂŁ100,000 on plans for a fence around some fields. Yes, you read that right.Â
Town hall bosses must get a grip of these ridiculous costs and focus cash on providing the front line services residents expect.
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Benjamin Elks
Grassroots Development Manager
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