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A nation of taxpayers
As promised, this week we launched our latest venture ([link removed]) , our brand new podcast: a nation of taxpayers. We know political podcasts have become all the rage in recent years, but not all podcasts were made the same.

Out is the ‘centrist dad’ dribble and the tired, soft-left, big-government ideas you’ll hear from the usual talking heads. You won’t get calls for more spending here or a new tax there. We’re offering straight talking, no nonsense analysis of the big issues that matter to taxpayers, updates on our campaigns, and the latest research. Which is exactly what the first episode delivered.
John O’Connell, the TPA’s chief executive, and Elliot Keck, our head of campaigns, sat down in the studio with podcast host Duncan Barkes, a broadcaster, journalist, and commentator, to record the debut episode. Speaking beforehand, Duncan laid out his vision for a nation of taxpayers: “This podcast will not only highlight the vital work the TPA does when it comes to tackling waste and getting value for money for taxpayers, it will also feature guests from across the political spectrum and views on the latest from Westminster.”

From the government’s investment summit and the chancellor’s jobs tax to well-heeled university dons and 20 years of the TPA, episode one ([link removed]) really is jam packed. Summing up Labour’s chaotic first few months in office, John put it perfectly: “they’re being nothing to no one by trying to be everything to everyone.” Later on in the conversation, Elliot took aim at how, despite spending £1.2 trillion each year, the state struggles to provide even the most basic of services. Using the example of the lack of driving tests Elliot blasted: “This is the state playing on easy mode… If you cannot even provide something as simple as driving tests, what hope is there for the rest of the public sector?”
We’re incredibly excited about a nation of taxpayers. Each week we’ll have new guests and be tackling all the hot topics. We’re not here to mince our words or shy away from saying it as we see it. You can listen to a nation of taxpayers on Spotify ([link removed]) and Apple Podcasts ([link removed]) with new episodes released every Thursday. You won’t want to miss out.
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The death tax
As the government continues to pitch-roll ahead of the budget, there seems to be no let up in the pain Labour are willing to inflict on taxpayers. On Friday, we learned that the chancellor is plotting an increase to one of Britain’s most hated taxes - inheritance tax. The unfair, unpopular and immoral death duty is just the latest tax the chancellor is looking at hiking in order to fund her spending splurge with manifesto-busting measures like a national insurance increase and prolonging the freeze on income tax thresholds also in the mix.
John had some choice words ([link removed]) for Reeves when he heard the news ([link removed]) , telling reporters: “With the threshold already frozen, more and more estates are being hit by this vindictive levy which leaves grieving families with huge tax bills at the worst possible time. Rachel Reeves should immediately rule out raising the hated death tax.”

Rather than looking to increase inheritance tax, this cruel tax should be buried once and for all.
TaxPayers' Alliance in the news
Patient parking

I’m sure we’ve all been in the situation at one point or another where we’ve had to pay a visit to a hospital, whether for ourselves or to visit a loved one. These occasions can be stressful enough without having to shell out just to leave your car in the hospital car park. It’s now been revealed just how much the NHS is squeezing out of patients and visitors ([link removed]) with £9.2 million being handed over last year.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Joanna Marchong, our investigations manager, slammed the charges ([link removed]) : “Parking charges at hospitals are the last thing patients, relatives and carers need… The government should put an end to this tax on the sick.” Hear, hear!
Labour tax rises

As mentioned, the budget is shaping up to be a rough ride for taxpayers. With all the rumours swirling, our head of research, Darwin Friend, took to GB News to cut through the bluster ([link removed]) and explain what it all means for hard-working Brits.
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With fuel duty in the chancellor’s sights ([link removed]) , Darwin explained to viewers: “There’s a raft of tax rises coming down the line… What needs to be remembered is that the Labour party, in their manifesto explicitly said they were not going to increase taxes on working people. Self-employed people, businesses, working people, all need fuel to get to work or do their jobs.”
Lag-liga

Despite the supposed lack of cash for frontline services, the Scottish Prison Service don’t seem to have their priorities in order. Keeping those held at His Majesty’s pleasure entertained would perhaps be quite far down the list for most people. But those staying at Castle Huntly near Dundee can look forward to a brand new, state of the art football pitch being installed ([link removed]) . Not forgetting a six-figure bill for taxpayers of course.
TPA researcher, Callum McGoldrick, was having absolutely none of it ([link removed]) when he spoke to the Scottish Sun: “With services in Scotland already stretched, law-abiding citizens shouldn’t be paying for La Liga for lags. Ministers should show a red card to this kind of nonsense spending.” Quite right.
Blog of the week
A tax on jobs is the last thing this country needs

Back in 2021, Rachel Reeves had a pretty good understanding of why increasing employer’s national insurance contributions was a bad idea (see her own words on the matter here ([link removed]) ). In case she needs reminding, our researcher, Jonathan Eida, utterly demolishes the arguments in an absolute corker of a blog ([link removed]) .
Jonathan nails it, writing: “There comes a tipping point when the benefit of employing a worker is outweighed by the cost of employing them. An increase in employer’s national insurance contribution swings the pendulum towards jobs being unsustainable, inevitably leading to job losses or lower wages… Fewer jobs also means less taxable income and more government expenditure. More welfare, less government receipts.”

Check out Jonathan’s blog in full here ([link removed])
War on Waste
The NHS in Wales is presumably running a first rate service with waiting times down and patients satisfied, right? How else can we explain their decision to advertise for an Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Champion ([link removed]) for the Women’s Health Network which carries a full-time salary of £105,504 to £139,882?

Pointless non-jobs like these should be scrapped with the money used for actually treating patients.

Send me your examples of wasteful public sector spending (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Wasteful%20spending)

Benjamin Elks
Grassroots Development Manager

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