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Quango sick days revealed
The TPA has always been forthright in calling out the sick note culture in the public sector. In the past we’ve revealed the cost of sick days in the civil service ([link removed]) , and have been leading voices in highlighting the fact that public sector workers take far more days off ill than those who work in the private sector. They already have more flexible working hours, better job security, higher pay packets and gold-plated pensions. Now we can add an undisputed sick note culture to the list. And of course, the cost to taxpayers is eye-watering.
Leading an in depth investigation, the TPA’s Joanna Marchong, has dug through the spreadsheets and accounts of 55 quangos - those arms-length bodies funded largely by taxpayers and almost completely unaccountable to elected politicians. In findings shared exclusively with the Daily Mail ([link removed]) , Joanna revealed that over 1.2 million days of sick leave were taken by staff at these organisations in 2023, an average of 6.3 days per employee.
Not hiding her frustration, Joanna told Mail readers: “Taxpayers are tired of quangocrats blowing off working days. Sick leave in the public sector is consistently higher than the private sector and the cost to taxpayers is enough to give you a migraine. These organisations need to draw a hard line against employees taking advantage of sick leave.”
Naturally, we weren’t the only ones outraged by the findings. Mike Graham of TalkTV ([link removed]) blasted the shocking figures on his show and also rightly highlighted the disparity of annual leave bureaucrats enjoy compared to their private sector counterparts.
Earlier this year, before the election announcement, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised to deal with this very issue, telling the country ([link removed]) that we need to “change the sick note culture” and be “more honest about the risk of over-medicalising the everyday challenges and worries of life.” However, even as the problem clearly persists and worsens yearly, it seems to be a low priority for any election campaign.
Taxpayers deserve the chance to speak out on the shirking work culture fostered in the public sector. Help support our next investigation by clicking here to donate. ([link removed])
Election watch
With the best part of two weeks to go, we’ve now had the manifestos of all the major parties. Much like the campaign as a whole, there was little for taxpayers to get excited about from Labour, the Conservatives, or Lib Dems.
Step forward, Reform UK. With undoubtedly the boldest offering, Reform have used their contract with voters to offer a radical programme of tax cuts and even proposed some spending restraints too. As ever, our chief executive, John O’Connell, was on hand to give us his take ([link removed]) .
Adding a note of caution ([link removed]) to the promise of their ideas, John made clear: “Reform’s package of tax cuts, spending controls, and reducing regulation has the potential to offer real relief to Brits struggling under a record high tax burden and give a boost to businesses drowning in red tape. But while the plans for tax are big on promise, the details for reining in spending need to be spelt out for sceptical taxpayers."
TaxPayers' Alliance in the news
The role of an MP
In his latest column ([link removed]) for ConservativeHome, the TPA’s head of campaigns, Elliot Keck, has taken a look at just what MPs spend their time doing and asks whether we’ve turned them into glorified councillors, and why it spells bad news for our politics.
As Elliot argues, MPs focussing on local campaigns isn’t just bad for our politics but bad for taxpayers too: “It disempowers local councillors, and leaves little time for legislators to legislate… But critically, this is bad for taxpayers. If delivering for local people is the only thing that matters, it’s a recipe for the kind of pork-barrel politics that has dominated the discourse for years. Where securing grants or funding for local projects is the top political priority for a constituency MP, with questions of value for money at best ignored.” Have a read of Elliot’s op-ed here. ([link removed])
Arise, Sir Taxman
I’m sure few reading this email will need reminding of HMRC’s recent troubles and their efforts to avoid helping taxpayers. From closing their helpline over the summer to leaving hard-working Brits on hold for 800 years, we’re being let down by the tax office. But for those involved, it’s not all bad news. The chief executive of HMRC has been awarded a knighthood in the King’s birthday honours. ([link removed])
Our media campaign manager, William Yarwood, was livid when he found out. Speaking to City A.M., William slammed the gong as rewarding failure ([link removed]) : “This knighthood will feel like an insult to British taxpayers who have been left scarred by HMRC’s blunted service standards. During a time when staff have refused to come into the office and are failing to even pick up the phone, now is not the time to dish out honours when so many families are struggling.”
Blog of the week
Why are politicians strangling our wine industry?
This week was English wine week, a chance to celebrate the growing number (and quality) of English vineyards and wines. But as Brits sip one of the many top English sparkling wines in the sun, there are some dark clouds on the horizon for England's wine producers.
In this week’s blog ([link removed]) , Elliot writes that tax and regulation might mean this industry withers on the vine: “This dynamic and diverse industry is being stifled by an excessively complicated tax and regulatory regime that has rates far higher than most of Europe. The new taxation rules, set to be implemented in February 2025, could lead to increased prices for consumers and reduced competitiveness in the global market.”
Click to read more ([link removed])
War on Waste
A certain amount of travel is inevitable at the top levels of government and the civil service. But what really sticks in the craw is senior officials spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on luxury flights and leaving taxpayers with the bill.
A TPA investigation ([link removed]) has uncovered MoD bureaucrats splashed almost £1 million on business class flights in 2023. It’s time ministers clipped the wings of these high-flying officials and put an end to these flights of fancy.
Send me your examples of wasteful public sector spending (mailto:
[email protected]?subject=Wasteful%20spending)
Benjamin Elks
Grassroots Development Manager
[link removed]
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