| From | The TaxPayers' Alliance <[email protected]> |
| Subject | A message from the TPA |
| Date | December 14, 2025 11:00 AM |
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͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
[link removed]
Thank you
As 2025 draws to a close, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support over the last year. It’s been an extraordinary 12 months with highs and lows and your support has been incredible through it all!
With your help, we’ve produced more than 40 research [[link removed]] papers and briefings covering everything from mega pay packets for town hall bosses [[link removed]] and funding for Stonewall [[link removed]] to the Quango Database [[link removed]] and how much tax you’ll pay over your lifetime [[link removed]].
Our Benefits [[link removed]] and Schools [[link removed]] dashboards have proved to be fantastic resources for taxpayers to see where their money is going and helping them compare local services and situations.
A nation of taxpayers [[link removed]] has gone from strength to strength with some incredible guests like the late Peter Whittle [[link removed]], Esther McVey [[link removed]], Toby Young [[link removed]], and Gawain Towler [[link removed]], and covering topics from fixing the NHS [[link removed]] and Britain’s worst taxes [[link removed]] to the future of the Great British Pub [[link removed]] and problems at the BBC [[link removed]]. Read on for details of this week’s episode. And for those asking, we’re just putting the finishing touches to the studio (see Elliot Keck and William Yarwood trying to assemble a bookcase above) and we’ll be all set for the revamped and videoed episodes early in the new year. Keep your eyes peeled.
We’ve hit the streets running campaigns against council tax rises, town hall salaries, and the four-day week. We’ve traveled the country speaking at events in Newcastle, Manchester, Spen Valley, and Lewes to name but a few. And our message is reaching more people than ever through social media and we’ve clocked up more than 8,500 appearances in print, online, and across the airwaves.
None of this was possible without your support. Tens of thousands of you have signed our petitions, written to your MPs, and chipped in [[link removed]] to our campaigns, making sure the priorities of taxpayers are front and centre.
This government seems intent on doing everything they can to undermine and punish those just trying to get on - people just like you. Their budget a couple of weeks ago made clear whose side they’re on and where their priorities lie. Squeezing hard-working taxpayers to plough more money into welfare and the public sector.
2026 won’t be an easy year but we’re ready to stand up for taxpayers and fight against waste and the crippling tax burden, ensuring precious cash is focussed on your priorities. With your continued support [[link removed]], the voice of taxpayers will be louder than ever.
From the whole of the TPA team, thank you!
Can the Tories get back the working class vote?
For this week’s episode of a nation of taxpayers, Duncan Barkes is joined by William and Clark Vasey, co-founder and director of Blue Collar Conservatism [[link removed]].
They discuss the Conservative Party's role in representing those that work for a living and are classed as blue collar or white collar workers. Clark also explains his motivation for setting up Blue Collar Conservatism in 2012 and why it has never been more important for the Conservative Party to show they understand the needs and frustrations of this cohort of voters.
Give this week’s episode of a nation of taxpayers a listen on Apple Podcasts [[link removed]], Spotify [[link removed]], and YouTube [[link removed]].
Upsetting the cozy, left wing consensus
Elliot was in his element this week when he stepped into the BBC studios to appear on Politics Live. Alongside Labour MP, Polly Billington, and Ben Maguire MP of the Liberal Democrats, Elliot took his place on the sofa to discuss everything from Ukraine and rail nationalisation to the return of Angela Rayner and our relationship with the EU [[link removed]].
[link removed]
Elliot really got under the skin of the two lefty MPs when the topic of Angela Rayner came up telling viewers: “It’s all about the cynicism and hypocrisy of modern politics… She was the housing secretary who literally evaded stamp duty. I think you always expect politicians to be deeply unprincipled and say things as a political ploy but, with Rayner in particular and this Labour government, it is quite breathtaking.” Have a watch of his full appearance here [[link removed]].
Follow the foreign aid money
Have you ever wondered why foreign aid spending has such vocal defenders and why it’s taken so long to get the budget down? We like to think that its supporters genuinely believe in the projects and think it’s a great way to spend money. But it’s entirely possible that foreign aid advocates aren’t always being as altruistic as they seem.
New analysis has shown that £11 billion of foreign aid cash has been passed through private companies and spent on things like spa hotel stays, cushy London offices, trips to golf resorts, and advertising agencies [[link removed]]. John O’Connell spoke for us all when he branded the aid budget a “feeding frenzy for consultants” in the Telegraph: “Rather than taxpayer cash being used for humanitarian emergencies, it’s simply lining the pockets of the private sector’s pen pushers.”
Golden goodbyes for councillors
Extraordinary news emerged from Scotland this week that councillors who get booted out of office could soon be in line for severance payments [[link removed]]. Yep, when residents have had enough of local representatives, it’s been proposed they be given up to a year's salary (already £26,000) when they lose their seats.
Elliot was furious when he heard and gave the proposals both barrels [[link removed]] when he spoke to The Times: “It would be an outrageous betrayal of local taxpayers if this preposterous policy were to be implemented. Councillors were originally supposed to be local volunteers, not paid-up professional politicians in the gig for a payday. That relationship between councillor and resident was shattered in Scotland with the introduction of full salaries, and will be further damaged if golden goodbyes are handed out every time they’re turfed out at the ballot box.” Absolutely spot on!
A closer look at "Disability Price Tag"
In this week’s blog [[link removed]], Shimeon Lee takes a look at what is called the “Disability Price Tag” which is supposedly the extra costs that disabled people face. Currently standing at £1,095 a month, it’s a figure that gets a lot of attention from the media and politicians alike, particularly those opposed to any kind of welfare reform. If that figure is accurate, Shimeon notes that spending on PIP would have to increase “by 135 per cent. This would more than double the cost of PIP, which is already at a record high, from £28.5 billion to £67.2 billion in 2025-26.” But is the figure accurate and is it a fair reflection of the costs faced by disabled people? Shimeon digs into the numbers. [[link removed]]
Exploring how the figures are calculated and why they’re misleading, Shimeon writes: “suppose disability benefits are £10,000 a year. A disabled household earning £20,000 would therefore appear to have an income of £30,000 in this analysis. They would then be compared to a non-disabled household earning £30,000, rather than one actually earning the same amount as them (£20,000). This inflates the apparent gap in living standards and thus the cost of disability… Including disability benefits in the analysis leads to an infinitely increasing bar that will always be out of reach. If disability benefits were raised by the full £7,500 the report claims is necessary to cover the cost of disability, the comparator non-disabled household would simply change from one earning £30,000 to one earning £37,500, causing the gap in standard of living to re-emerge.” If we’re going to have a proper debate about spending on those with disabilities, the least we deserve is accurate and fair figures before taxpayers are told to hand over more cash. Have a read of Shimeon’s fascinating blog here [[link removed]].
Taxes of envy
We usually use this last section to highlight some egregious spending by a council or government department. While there’s certainly been plenty of that this week, I wanted to share with you a story of just how petty some councils can be.
The second home council tax surcharge is only supposed to be imposed where “appropriate” - places where many properties are left unoccupied for large parts of the year while there is significant pressure on local housing markets. Without getting into the fundamental unfairness of this tax, Tamworth council have decided to impose a 100 per cent surcharge which will hit just six homeowners [[link removed]].
As Elliot rightly points out: “This is a perfect example of a council using new tax powers for headline-grabbing symbolism rather than serious policy.” This won’t alleviate the problems of Tamworth’s housing market or bring in substantial funds for council coffers. It’s simply the politics, and taxes, of envy.
The TaxPayers' Alliance © 2025 – Unsubscribe [[link removed]]
[link removed]
Thank you
As 2025 draws to a close, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support over the last year. It’s been an extraordinary 12 months with highs and lows and your support has been incredible through it all!
With your help, we’ve produced more than 40 research [[link removed]] papers and briefings covering everything from mega pay packets for town hall bosses [[link removed]] and funding for Stonewall [[link removed]] to the Quango Database [[link removed]] and how much tax you’ll pay over your lifetime [[link removed]].
Our Benefits [[link removed]] and Schools [[link removed]] dashboards have proved to be fantastic resources for taxpayers to see where their money is going and helping them compare local services and situations.
A nation of taxpayers [[link removed]] has gone from strength to strength with some incredible guests like the late Peter Whittle [[link removed]], Esther McVey [[link removed]], Toby Young [[link removed]], and Gawain Towler [[link removed]], and covering topics from fixing the NHS [[link removed]] and Britain’s worst taxes [[link removed]] to the future of the Great British Pub [[link removed]] and problems at the BBC [[link removed]]. Read on for details of this week’s episode. And for those asking, we’re just putting the finishing touches to the studio (see Elliot Keck and William Yarwood trying to assemble a bookcase above) and we’ll be all set for the revamped and videoed episodes early in the new year. Keep your eyes peeled.
We’ve hit the streets running campaigns against council tax rises, town hall salaries, and the four-day week. We’ve traveled the country speaking at events in Newcastle, Manchester, Spen Valley, and Lewes to name but a few. And our message is reaching more people than ever through social media and we’ve clocked up more than 8,500 appearances in print, online, and across the airwaves.
None of this was possible without your support. Tens of thousands of you have signed our petitions, written to your MPs, and chipped in [[link removed]] to our campaigns, making sure the priorities of taxpayers are front and centre.
This government seems intent on doing everything they can to undermine and punish those just trying to get on - people just like you. Their budget a couple of weeks ago made clear whose side they’re on and where their priorities lie. Squeezing hard-working taxpayers to plough more money into welfare and the public sector.
2026 won’t be an easy year but we’re ready to stand up for taxpayers and fight against waste and the crippling tax burden, ensuring precious cash is focussed on your priorities. With your continued support [[link removed]], the voice of taxpayers will be louder than ever.
From the whole of the TPA team, thank you!
Can the Tories get back the working class vote?
For this week’s episode of a nation of taxpayers, Duncan Barkes is joined by William and Clark Vasey, co-founder and director of Blue Collar Conservatism [[link removed]].
They discuss the Conservative Party's role in representing those that work for a living and are classed as blue collar or white collar workers. Clark also explains his motivation for setting up Blue Collar Conservatism in 2012 and why it has never been more important for the Conservative Party to show they understand the needs and frustrations of this cohort of voters.
Give this week’s episode of a nation of taxpayers a listen on Apple Podcasts [[link removed]], Spotify [[link removed]], and YouTube [[link removed]].
Upsetting the cozy, left wing consensus
Elliot was in his element this week when he stepped into the BBC studios to appear on Politics Live. Alongside Labour MP, Polly Billington, and Ben Maguire MP of the Liberal Democrats, Elliot took his place on the sofa to discuss everything from Ukraine and rail nationalisation to the return of Angela Rayner and our relationship with the EU [[link removed]].
[link removed]
Elliot really got under the skin of the two lefty MPs when the topic of Angela Rayner came up telling viewers: “It’s all about the cynicism and hypocrisy of modern politics… She was the housing secretary who literally evaded stamp duty. I think you always expect politicians to be deeply unprincipled and say things as a political ploy but, with Rayner in particular and this Labour government, it is quite breathtaking.” Have a watch of his full appearance here [[link removed]].
Follow the foreign aid money
Have you ever wondered why foreign aid spending has such vocal defenders and why it’s taken so long to get the budget down? We like to think that its supporters genuinely believe in the projects and think it’s a great way to spend money. But it’s entirely possible that foreign aid advocates aren’t always being as altruistic as they seem.
New analysis has shown that £11 billion of foreign aid cash has been passed through private companies and spent on things like spa hotel stays, cushy London offices, trips to golf resorts, and advertising agencies [[link removed]]. John O’Connell spoke for us all when he branded the aid budget a “feeding frenzy for consultants” in the Telegraph: “Rather than taxpayer cash being used for humanitarian emergencies, it’s simply lining the pockets of the private sector’s pen pushers.”
Golden goodbyes for councillors
Extraordinary news emerged from Scotland this week that councillors who get booted out of office could soon be in line for severance payments [[link removed]]. Yep, when residents have had enough of local representatives, it’s been proposed they be given up to a year's salary (already £26,000) when they lose their seats.
Elliot was furious when he heard and gave the proposals both barrels [[link removed]] when he spoke to The Times: “It would be an outrageous betrayal of local taxpayers if this preposterous policy were to be implemented. Councillors were originally supposed to be local volunteers, not paid-up professional politicians in the gig for a payday. That relationship between councillor and resident was shattered in Scotland with the introduction of full salaries, and will be further damaged if golden goodbyes are handed out every time they’re turfed out at the ballot box.” Absolutely spot on!
A closer look at "Disability Price Tag"
In this week’s blog [[link removed]], Shimeon Lee takes a look at what is called the “Disability Price Tag” which is supposedly the extra costs that disabled people face. Currently standing at £1,095 a month, it’s a figure that gets a lot of attention from the media and politicians alike, particularly those opposed to any kind of welfare reform. If that figure is accurate, Shimeon notes that spending on PIP would have to increase “by 135 per cent. This would more than double the cost of PIP, which is already at a record high, from £28.5 billion to £67.2 billion in 2025-26.” But is the figure accurate and is it a fair reflection of the costs faced by disabled people? Shimeon digs into the numbers. [[link removed]]
Exploring how the figures are calculated and why they’re misleading, Shimeon writes: “suppose disability benefits are £10,000 a year. A disabled household earning £20,000 would therefore appear to have an income of £30,000 in this analysis. They would then be compared to a non-disabled household earning £30,000, rather than one actually earning the same amount as them (£20,000). This inflates the apparent gap in living standards and thus the cost of disability… Including disability benefits in the analysis leads to an infinitely increasing bar that will always be out of reach. If disability benefits were raised by the full £7,500 the report claims is necessary to cover the cost of disability, the comparator non-disabled household would simply change from one earning £30,000 to one earning £37,500, causing the gap in standard of living to re-emerge.” If we’re going to have a proper debate about spending on those with disabilities, the least we deserve is accurate and fair figures before taxpayers are told to hand over more cash. Have a read of Shimeon’s fascinating blog here [[link removed]].
Taxes of envy
We usually use this last section to highlight some egregious spending by a council or government department. While there’s certainly been plenty of that this week, I wanted to share with you a story of just how petty some councils can be.
The second home council tax surcharge is only supposed to be imposed where “appropriate” - places where many properties are left unoccupied for large parts of the year while there is significant pressure on local housing markets. Without getting into the fundamental unfairness of this tax, Tamworth council have decided to impose a 100 per cent surcharge which will hit just six homeowners [[link removed]].
As Elliot rightly points out: “This is a perfect example of a council using new tax powers for headline-grabbing symbolism rather than serious policy.” This won’t alleviate the problems of Tamworth’s housing market or bring in substantial funds for council coffers. It’s simply the politics, and taxes, of envy.
The TaxPayers' Alliance © 2025 – Unsubscribe [[link removed]]
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