Three weeks ago we set out five tax reforms to ensure Britain's economic recovery after coronavirus. As the government announces plans to lift lockdown, we have proposed 20 regulatory reforms to free up enterprise and help us bounce back from one of the sharpest economic contractions in history.
On everything from loft extensions to e-scooters, these reforms slash bureaucratic red tape in order to build more housing, promote employment, recover high streets, enhance product offerings in goods and services, and make accessing finance less burdensome for smaller businesses. Click here to read our full list of reforms.
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The economic challenges of the coronavirus crisis are profound and can only be met with bold action that protects taxpayers. Cutting red tape is a vital part of the government’s arsenal and making the right changes will see the economy head in the right direction.
Simply hiking taxes to pay for a massive stimulus package won’t bring long term economic recovery. Politicians must avoid this taxpayer austerity and instead allow businesses to thrive and provide the growth the country so badly needs.
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Our campaigning is already having an impact. Reports suggest that the government is drafting up legalisation to implement one of our policies. We called for cafes, restaurants and pubs to be able to use nearby parking spaces and parks for customer seating. This key reform will help to ensure that hospitality venues have the best chance of surviving in the current economic climate.
Those in the corridors of power are clearly listening to the TaxPayers' Alliance. There is much more work to do though. In the coming weeks and months we will make sure politicians in Westminster hear our message loud and clear!
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TaxPayers' Alliance in the news
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Stop pampering politicians
Back in early April we learned that members of parliament were eligible to claim up to £10,000 in expenses to help them work from home during lockdown. We called this out at the time, saying it should not turn into a "personal equipment slush fund" for MPs.
But on Thursday we discovered that the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) will allow MPs to request up to £18,720 in extra cash for their staffing budget. Additionally, their staff will be able to claim a £312 annual homeworking bonus to cover telephone usage, electricity and gas.
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Asked for comment by Westminster blogger Guido Fawkes, our research director Duncan Simpson expressed his anger at the announcement:
“MPs and their staff should not be getting budget top-ups for working from home when everyone else is being expected to just get on with it. Millions have been stuck in the house, looking after kids and cracking on with their day jobs – where’s their £312 annual homeworking bonus? Parliamentary authorities need to get a grip and stop pampering our politicos.”
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Have you tried turning it off and on again?
The NHS has a woeful record when it comes to large scale IT projects, wasting billions of pounds over the years. Disgracefully, yet more of taxpayers' cash has been squandered after failure to implement an NHS contact tracing app. According to the Daily Express, £11.8 million of public funds went down the drain after it emerged the software was not compatible with all smartphones
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Asked for his reaction, our campaign manger Sam Packer told Luke Hawker of the Express, “It is always hugely frustrating to see taxpayers’ money wasted, especially when there have been major red flags warning of the risk. With the government’s less-than-stellar IT record, a decentralised approach was always going to be the sensible solution. The government must remember, it is taxpayers’ money they’re putting at risk and guard against wasting it on unnecessary schemes.”
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An app a day doesn't keep the doctor away
Whilst the 'track and trace' app has been a disaster that doesn't mean we should write off technology in the health and social care sector. As our operations director Sara Rainwater lays out, everything from the humble telephone to digital triage tools can bring tremendous benefits for taxpayers and patients. She writes:
"Moving to more telephone and virtual consultations could significantly reduce the number of did not attends (DNAs) with GPs, which costs the NHS an estimated £216 million a year. That’s around 7.2 million GP DNAs at £30 a pop, which could pay for 8,424 full time community nurses." Click here to read more.
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Parking mad: lose the levy
As part of of reducing the spread of coronavirus the government urged people travelling to work to use cars instead of public transport. At the same time local authorities across the country are slapping all manner of stealth taxes on already hard-pressed motorists.
In Scotland, councils have the authority to introduce a workplace parking levy (WPL).The concept is that employers who provide parking spaces to their employees should be taxed for encouraging more cars on the road.
I argue motorists heeding government advice would be punished for being responsible. Furthermore, imposing a parking tax will not solve congestion problems, but it will add to the massive tax burden and undermine enterprise. Right now, councils considering a levy should simply park the idea.
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Civil service perks
The latest in our War on Waste series has exposed the special perks Whitehall workers are enjoying thanks to the taxpayer. We lifted the lid on civil service departments and found they have enjoyed cycling, canteen and holiday perks worth over £7.6 million since 2014.
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Just on holiday perks alone, the cost to the taxpayer was at least £6.8 million. Whitehall mandarins are allowed to "rollover" annual leave days to the following year if unused. Very few in the private sector receive such a generous perk.
When the tax burden is at its highest in fifty years it is quite frankly unfair and unacceptable that hard-pressed taxpayers are footing the bill for these luxury perks. The civil service needs a reality check. Their perks shouldn't exceed those typically on offer in the private sector.
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Harry Fone
Grassroots Campaign Manager
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