It’s been a rollercoaster twenty years for the British public. Elections, referendums, a financial crash and a pandemic - it seems like never-ending upheaval. Of course, all of that - and more - has kept the TaxPayers’ Alliance busy in its 20 years of existence. And given what we’re hearing about the upcoming Budget, it looks like the next few years will throw up some turmoil of their own, so unfortunately our campaigns feel more urgent and relevant. The tax burden has risen under pretty much every government since we were founded - but it seems like we're entering even more dangerous territory.

The TPA was formed in 2004, when Matthew Elliott and Andrew Allum grew weary with a cosy consensus on tax and spend. The government of the day was starting to turn up the dial on public spending, which would inevitably lead to big deficits, more debt and higher taxes. But there wasn’t a clear and consistent voice in opposition to this.

So they gathered together many people who agreed with them, and organised sustained campaigns. They carefully put together research on wasteful spending. And they started building a reputation for reliable and sharp commentary on fiscal policy.

It was Matthew and Andrew (pictured below) - with some help from other volunteers - who put the building blocks in place for the TPA to grow into the institution it is now.

We know we have big challenges, but we have to remain vigilant and optimistic. We’ve had huge successes, as the video above demonstrates. And we can have more as tax hikes start to pinch, services decline and people realise just how much of their money is squandered.

We wouldn’t have lasted two decades without our supporters. We’re up against a powerful blob and it can sometimes feel daunting. But we should all remember that the power should rest with those who pay, rather than those who spend.

Help us make the next twenty years as productive as the last by donating here

It’s not been a good few years for taxpayers. Hard-fought victories like the cuts to national insurance, or freezes to fuel duty have been accompanied by repeated hammer blows. Shockingly, but not surprisingly, things are set to get worse. Sir Keir Starmer in a speech on Tuesday warned that taxpayers would have to “accept short term pain for long term good.” 

Speaking ahead of the speech, our head of campaigns Elliot Keck warned Peter Cardwell’s listeners on Talk that when Starmer talks of things getting worse he means “a variety of tax rises, which looks likely to be capital gains, pensions relief and inheritance tax. ”

We were quick out of the traps in our reaction. In comments covered by the Express, GB News, Conservative Home, Daily Star and Telegraph, John fumed that “Taxpayers will be left disheartened and betrayed by Starmer’s speech, which does nothing to help households who are already struggling under a 70 year high tax burden.”

Things only got worse from there. It turns out that while enduring yet more misery heaped on them by politicians who can’t get the public finances under control, struggling Brits will also be banned from smoking a cigarette while in a pub garden. But more on that later.

The British Red Cross, a proud British institution that has stood the test of time since the late 19th century, has been the latest to fall foul to woke language policing with the charity telling staff that they’re not allowed to use the terms “biological female” or “illegal immigrant.” 

With the charity receiving millions of pounds in taxpayers cash, John hit back in the Daily Mail: “Ministers need to ensure taxpayers' cash is being used to fund frontline services and not radical activism.” Instead of focusing on EDI initiatives they should focus on saving lives.

Having none of it, our media campaign manager William Yarwood, joined Kevin O’Sullivan on Talk and asked why the BBC bothers to hire 331 taxpayer-funded HR managers if presenters and bosses always seem to fall short of the mark? “What are they doing all day!?” Will exclaimed. What are they doing, indeed.

As Starmer looks set to make it illegal to enjoy a cigarette outside of pubs and nightclubs, the SNP, not content with just having strictest alcohol laws in the UK, are considering replicating this ban in Scotland in the near future.

John took aim at both Starmer and the Scottish First Minister John Swinney in the Scottish Daily Express: “This is just another cruel sucker punch to pubs, punters and party goers. They should butt out of people's lives and focus on delivering frontline public services”. Strong but correct, as always.

Readers will be fully clued in on the TPA’s campaign to raise awareness about the rising national debt. For too long, politicians have just kicked the can down the road and relied on passing this mounting debt to future leaders and parties. 

In a fascinating blog, Elliot reminds us of one politician who took on the problem head-on. It turns out that former prime minister Stanley Baldwin once used his own wealth to pay down part of the national debt. Long gone are the days when a leader would take active action instead of just ignoring the elephant in the room.