First things first, happy new year! We certainly hope you were able to put your feet up and relax during the Christmas period in between the food and drinks - all the things Chris Whitty would rather you didnât get to enjoy - and are all set for the year ahead because, letâs be honest, it looks like another rough ride for taxpayers.
But before all that, it was certainly a busy break for the TPA team with no less than three different investigations splashing the front pages.Â
Despite the weather, yesterday was actually 'Sunshine Saturday', when thousands of Brits will have been looking to get their summer getaways booked. Unfortunately, the latest briefing from the TPA eggheads means families might have to lower their horizons in the coming years. In findings that led the front page of the Daily Mail, our team calculated that government changes to air passenger duty mean hard working families may have to hand over ÂŁ400 to the taxman when booking their well earned breaks from April 2026.Â
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Naturally Darwin Friend, our head of research, was less than impressed and highlighted just how out of touch this government is: âWhile the Prime Minister is able to swan off around the world without the need to pay APD from his own pocket, the taxpayers funding his travel have to work even harder to be able to afford an annual holiday.â
Speaking of getting away, it looks like increasing numbers of council staff arenât just working from home but are being allowed to work from the beach. In the second Daily Mail front page splash, our investigations guru, Joanna Marchong, revealed that at least 731 council workers were given permission to work from abroad in 2023/24 including one whoâs been logging in from Ibiza for four years. Joanna was fuming and rightly told Mail readers that this âwill come as a slap in the face to the residents who are facing higher council tax bills despite reduced frontline services.âÂ
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But perhaps we shouldnât be too harsh on the stalwarts of our town halls. After all, despite their hearty salaries, generous pensions, and flexible working arrangements theyâre still having a tough time of it. Joannaâs latest investigation discovered that more than 6.4 million mental health sick days were taken by council workers between 2021 and 2024. Having chalked up another front page story, Joanna gave the findings both barrels, telling the Telegraph: âSick leave rates in the public sector are consistently higher than in the private sector, and now âmental healthâ is fast becoming the latest catch-all excuse for shirking responsibility.â
With all this going on, itâs understandable then that Darwin, along with our head of campaigns Elliot Keck, werenât exactly optimistic in their predictions for 2025 on the latest episode of a nation of taxpayers.
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Joining podcast host Duncan Barkes, Darwin and Elliot take a look at the year ahead, the impact of Rachel Reevesâ tax rises, the wider political situation, and what it all means for taxpayers. Be sure to catch the latest episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
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TaxPayers' Alliance in the news
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Ridiculous restaurant bill
In news that really might make you spit out your cornflakes, civil servants in the home office managed to rack up a whopping ÂŁ10,000 bill dining out at a snazzy London restaurant and left it for taxpayers to pay.
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There was sheer fury in the TPA offices when we found out and John OâConnell, our chief executive, raged to the Sun: âThere can be no excuse for this outrageous extravagance. Whoever approved this needs to be given a good dressing-down.â
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London LTN windfall
Driving in the capital is not generally seen as a leisure activity and Sadiq Khanâs ULEZ can make it quite a pricey affair too. But individual councils have also been jumping on the bandwagon in recent years with their imposition of low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs). Not only are these LTNs a massive inconvenience for residents, theyâre also proving to be another way of milking cash from motorists.Â
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A TPA investigation has revealed that over ÂŁ200 million has been raised from almost 2 million fines in the last three years. Sharing the findings with the Daily Mail, Elliot fumed: âMotorists will be furious at the way that low-traffic neighbourhood schemes have accelerated over the past few years as cash-hungry councils seek ever more ways to squeeze taxpayers dry.âÂ
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Where your council tax goes
We all know that council employees get a pretty decent deal with a pension all but unavailable for those in the private sector, but just how much of your council tax is actually being used to prop up these gold plated pensions? New analysis has revealed that nearly 25 per cent of your council tax is going towards these princely nest eggs.
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John spoke for taxpayers across the country when he told the Times: âWhile households across the country are faced with higher and higher tax bills, vast sums are being used to maintain nest eggs most people could only dream of. These gold-plated pension schemes should be closed, with public sector benefits brought into line with those of the private sector.â
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War on Waste update
In her latest War on Waste blog, Joanna looks back at some of the top stories we uncovered during Labourâs first three months in office. From business class flights to ridiculous research, thereâs plenty of cash just waiting to be saved.
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While we may have a new set of ministers, it certainly seems to be business as usual when it comes to squandering taxpayersâ money as Joanna notes: âItâs no wonder in the final few months of the Conservative government, we found countless examples of frivolous spending, of which this blog lays out just a few. Unfortunately, things have not gotten any better under our new overlords. Either way, the TaxPayers' Alliance will remain on the front line, exposing these scandals and holding public bodies accountable.â
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Barely a week goes by when we donât hear of another council pleading poverty and yet somehow they always seem to find the money for the most pointless projects.
This week, we bring you the case of Southampton city council who, despite nearly going bankrupt last year managed to spend ÂŁ80,000 on a new logo. Southampton taxpayers deserve better.
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Benjamin Elks
Grassroots Development Manager
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