It’s safe to say that our latest research doesn’t paint a pretty picture for taxpayers. The TPA wonks have been busy exposing the vast art collections held by town halls across the country.
Cash strapped councils have built up a collection of almost two million pieces of art worth billions of pounds yet these municipal masterpieces are largely hidden from public view. Local authorities now own almost ÂŁ1.5 billion worth of artwork but just 28 per cent of it is on public display. The average council art collection is worth more than ÂŁ8.7 million and numbers 6,265 pieces.
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Unlike town halls and their art collections, our campaigns team were keen for our findings to be revealed for the world to see. Speaking to the Telegraph, lead researcher Jonathan Eida made the point that “town hall bosses across the UK claim to be on a path to bankruptcy, yet far too many are prioritising art collections over bin collections”, adding that “councils should ensure that their art holdings are on public display or consider selling them to replenish depleted coffers.”
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Following up on broadcast, our head of campaigns Elliot Keck could be found on the breakfast shows for both Talk and GB News. Speaking to Mike Graham on Talk, Elliot channelled the fury of taxpayers, telling Mike that councils who insist that they need to hold onto these collections for a rainy day should remember that for local residents and taxpayers “it’s not just been a rainy day, it’s been a continuous torrential downpour.”
We’re one of the few organisations willing to reveal the shocking profligacy of town halls up and down the country. If you want to help us hold your council to account, please consider chipping in.
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We will be keeping a close eye throughout the next few weeks on what the upcoming general election will mean for taxpayers. It’s been reassuring to see both the Conservative and Labour parties unambiguously rule out increases to income tax, VAT and national insurance, although whether they should really be trusted is another matter.
But given the tax burden is heading for an 80-year high, it’s simply not enough for the parties to be ruling out tax rises. They should be actively laying out a programme of tax cuts, to ensure that the strain placed on household budgets is eased.
Until one of the parties starts making the positive case for tax cuts, it looks like the next government could be much of the same.
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TaxPayers' Alliance in the news
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MoD bosses living the high life
While many rank-and-file army homes are damp and mouldy, MoD bosses and senior service staff have splashed ÂŁ97 million on swanky hotel rooms and accommodation. With both parties talking about the need for higher defence spending, this profligacy will infuriate taxpayers who know how vital the defence budget is, and how carefully it should be used.
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As our chief executive John O’Connell said to the Sun: “As budgets are squeezed and defence chiefs warn of shortages, MoD mandarins are living a life of luxury.”
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Council fatcats on the French Riviera
Every year dozens of council officials and government bureaucrats jet off to Cannes on the French Riviera for what they claim to be a real estate conference, but what visitors describe as a booze-soaked jamboree. And every year our investigations team are quick out the traps to trackdown every penny spent on these foreign jollies. This year the findings were as shocking as they’ve ever been, with £400,000 spent, and expense claims submitted for champagne and kinder bueno eggs
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Speaking to the Daily Express, our investigations guru Joanna Marchong, blasted: “This will be a slap in the face to all the hard-working Brits who struggle to make ends meet. These insulting indulgences have got to come to an end.” Hear hear!
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Scrap the stealth tax
Due to stubbornly frozen tax thresholds, TPA research has found that 2.5 million more people are now paying income tax compared to 2021-22. Unsurprisingly, the issue of frozen thresholds looks set to be a key one in the months and years to ahead.
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John put pen to paper in an op-ed for GB News making the case once again for thresholds to be unfrozen: “Whoever is in charge after July 4 should give taxpayers the relief they richly deserve by raising thresholds in line with inflation.”
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Cracks in the safety net - is there a solution to benefit fraud?
In this week’s blog, Joanna has taken a look at the burgeoning issue of benefit fraud in the UK.Â
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Putting into perspective the sheer scale of the problem, Joanna says it's time for a more proactive approach from the government to put an end to fraudulent claims: “There will always be those in society who fancy trying their luck, but it is ultimately the responsibility of our government to make sure that our system is impenetrable or that the punishment for fleecing taxpayers is deterring.”
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The Welsh government has spent £16,000 on one of the more bizarre projects we’ve seen in recent years. Titled the “metaverse” it’s an online platform that featuring an “ immersive experience” which would “ inspire future tourists by showcasing the range of experiences, places and attractions available to explore across Wales in real life”. This from the same government planning on bringing in a tourist tax for visitors.
It’s not clear whether on this metaverse you can visit the crumbling hospitals, struggling schools or speak to the taxpayers being hammered by devastating council tax hikes imposed by Welsh councils. Maybe that would be a worthwhile tool for the Welsh government to invest in.
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Benjamin Elks
Grassroots Development Manager
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