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Pilgrims running riot
There are very few people who would argue that public services are firing on all cylinders at the moment. From waiting on hold to speak to HMRC, to NHS waiting lists and unfilled potholes, we’re not getting the services we pay for.
While new ministers look to get to grips with the nation’s problems, the latest explosive research from the TPA wonks might help explain why things aren’t working as they should be. For starters, tens of thousands of those employed across the public sector are actually moonlighting as trade union officials ([link removed]) . Our analysis of the latest figures show that in 2022-23 there were 23,592 public sector trade union representatives, an increase of 468 from 2021-22.
Worse still, over 1,000 of them spent 100 per cent of their time on union duties ([link removed]) . To be absolutely clear, over 1,000 people employed in roles across the public sector spent none of their time actually doing the jobs they were employed for. They spent it all working for their unions, rather than the public. Another 500 spent at least 50 per cent of their time on union duties. This means that there were over 1,500 pilgrims (public sector workers who do union work whilst on the clock) doing their actual jobs less than half the time they were meant to be.
What does this mean for taxpayers? Well, with all that work not being done, you were left with a bill for ÂŁ96,767,665 in 2022-23. This is a ÂŁ7.4 million or 8.4 per cent increase from 2021-22.
When we showed him the findings, our chief executive, John O’Connell, spoke for the nation. In comments picked up by the Sun ([link removed]) and the Telegraph ([link removed]) , John said “Brits will be furious that thousands of staff who should be providing public services are moonlighting for the trade unions instead. After years of intense industrial action disrupting the vital services that taxpayers pay so handsomely for, it will add insult to injury for many to learn that they have effectively been subsidising the strikes.”
In a helpful blog ([link removed]) , lead researcher on this project, Shimeon Lee explains: “To be clear, the TPA absolutely believes that the right to strike is sacred. But that does not mean that taxpayers should be effectively funding the same bodies that organise such strikes. The sums involved are significant. Around £100 million per year is the total cost in staff time.”
This isn’t the first time we’ve raised this issue. When we last published this kind of research in 2022, thousands of you backed our petition to cut back facility time. When we delivered the petition ([link removed]) to then minister Jacob Rees-Mogg, he pledged to crack down on the practice across the civil service. To be fair to him, since 2022 the civil service has significantly cut down on the percentage of its wage bill that goes towards facility time. . Unfortunately, with Labour showing enthusiastic support for facility time in its New Deal for Workers ([link removed]) , we fear all that good work could be undone.
As hard-working Brits struggle under the 70 year high tax burden and pay through the nose for the services they rely on, it’s only right that public sector officials are focussed on the job they’re hired to do. If the new government is serious about delivering, they should immediately clamp down on this questionable practice so public sector employees are actually working for the public, not the unions that hold the country to ransom!
As we hold the new government to account, your support is needed more than ever. Click here to back our campaign! ([link removed])
TaxPayers' Alliance in the news
Four-day week
Speaking of public sector workers slacking off, regular readers will know that we’ve been keeping a close eye ([link removed]) on the goings on at South Cambridgeshire district council who last year implemented a four-day week for staff. With renewed calls from Unison, one of the UK’s largest trade unions, for the four-day week to be extended to all public sector workers, our head of campaigns, Elliot Keck, took to BBC Radio 5 live to speak up for taxpayers ([link removed]) .
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As Elliot explained to listeners: “A lot of the benefits have been exaggerated but the real problem with South Cambridgeshire is the shockingly undemocratic way that they’ve gone about this trial. Councillors were promised time and time again that they would be given a vote on it but councillors still have not been given a vote.” Listen to Elliot’s full interview here. ([link removed])
Reeves’ first speech
New chancellor, Rachel Reeves, delivered her first speech in post this week. Amongst a range of announcements and pledges, Reeves promised to overhaul the planning system in a bid to deliver the economic growth that has been so lacking in recent years. Notably missing from her speech ([link removed]) though was much in the way of easing the burden on taxpayers.
After watching the speech, John made clear ([link removed]) to the Daily Express: “As well as addressing issues with planning, the new government should take seriously the significant problems with the tax system and the many ways in which it harms economic growth and reduces investment.” Hear, hear!
Killjoy councils
As the country gathers round TV screens this evening to cheer on England in the Euros final, those out and about might find themselves being told off by council busybodies ([link removed]) . Rather than enjoying the tournament, Islington and Waltham Forest councils have decided to focus on telling pub goers to keep it down.
Being no stranger to belting out Sweet Caroline and Three Lions, I couldn’t let this nannying nonsense go unchallenged ([link removed]) and told the Spectator: “While football fans chant it’s coming home, council busybodies are wagging their fingers and calling for quiet. These spoilsport town halls should get a grip and embrace the enthusiasm that the rest of the nation has about England’s impressive run.”
Town hall bureaucrats may not be cheering England on, but we certainly will be!
Blog of the week
Britain does not need a wealth fund
In this week’s blog ([link removed]) , TPA researcher, Callum McGoldrick, has taken a look at another of Rachel Reeves’ proposals, that of creating a sovereign wealth fund for the UK.
Tackling the arguments head on, Callum spells out just why these proposals are bad news for taxpayers: “Sovereign wealth funds have been a useful tool for multiple countries around the globe with the often cited examples being Singapore, Norway and Saudi Arabia. All of these countries have drastically different circumstances to the UK today though, meaning any comparisons are unhelpful at best and dangerous at worst… Independent bodies don’t tend to remain independent for long before becoming increasingly left wing and activist led." Have a read of Callum’s insightful blog here. ([link removed])
War on Waste
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Our investigations manager, Joanna Marchong, continues to uncover shocking and more absurd examples of waste. This week, Joanna exposed over £1 million of your money was given to researchers looking to expose how classical music is actually… racist. Yep you read that right. Check out Joanna’s exposé here. ([link removed])
Send me your examples of wasteful public sector spending (mailto:
[email protected]?subject=Wasteful%20spending)
Benjamin Elks
Grassroots Development Manager
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