Ahead of the Budget, the TaxPayers' Alliance has set out its stall - calling for a respite from taxes, a rescue for struggling sectors and a revival for the economy. Our policy analysts worked night and day to produce a detailed plan to get Britain booming again.
We are ramping up the pressure on the chancellor to extend the business rates holiday and VAT cuts. Over the next two years these measures alone would be worth as much as £25.6 billion to the hospitality sector.
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As part of a wider recovery package Rishi should let taxpayers keep more of their money. By moving the personal allowance in line with wage inflation, taxpayers would save almost £30 in 2021-22 and £83 in 2022-23.
Urgent action is need on jobs too. Employer's national insurance is nothing more than a tax on jobs - it should be scrapped and replaced with a temporary payroll levy. This would lead to massive savings on wage bills for companies large and small.
Additionally, raising the annual investment threshold to £5 million would give a much needed boost to investment across the country.
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Our message to the chancellor is crystal clear. People from across the political spectrum can see easing the tax burden would decisively help Britain’s economic recovery. In these exceedingly difficult times, we must give over-taxed families and businesses some breathing room.
The country needs policies that can get the economy booming again. The TaxPayers' Alliance is making the case at every opportunity in the corridors of power.
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TPA fights back on on golden goodbyes
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There was bad news for taxpayers after the Treasury announced a u-turn on the public sector exit payment cap. After relentless campaigning by the TPA a limit of £95,000 was imposed on "golden goodbyes" for public sector staff back in November. Now, just three months on, Whitehall mandarins and union bosses have managed to get it overturned.
We won’t let this slide! If you haven't done so already please sign our petition and get the government to reintroduce the cap.
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Unless the rules are urgently replaced, private sector workers who have faced a year of unprecedented hardship will once again be forced to foot the bill for golden goodbyes. The TPA is telling ministers they must commit to bringing back this cap and ensure taxpayers aren't fleeced again by pampered public sector bosses.
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TaxPayers' Alliance in the news
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The BBC can't have it both ways
Newspaper reports hinted that the BBC was to offer an amnesty to over-75 year olds who haven't paid the TV licence fee. The Beeb quickly refuted the story saying many pensioners would face prosecution for non-payment. But once again it stoked up the argument about how the corporation should be funded.
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Speaking to Julia Harley-Brewer on talkRadio our research director Duncan Simpson laid out why the current funding model is so bad. Addressing millions of listeners across the county he pointed out that on one hand the BBC claims to be a national treasure worthy of the licence fee. On the other it wants to compete more with other broadcasters. It can't have it both ways.
Duncan was adamant that "a much more reasonable process for funding the BBC would be a voluntary subscription model." Click here to watch the full interview.
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State control must be a last resort
On Thursday morning a speech by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer attempted to set a bold vision for Britain's economic recovery post pandemic. It's fair to say that it wasn't as well received as he hoped. Whilst making encouraging comments about not raising taxes, he also called for even greater government control of the economy.
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Giving his thoughts on the speech, our chief executive John O'Connell told the Daily Express, “Taxpayers are desperate to get on with their lives and let the economy fire up again. Disappointingly, all Sir Keir had to offer was high-minded harking back to the second world war. The lesson we’ve learned from lockdown is that living under state control must be a last resort, not a blueprint for the next Budget.”
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Police spend millions on 'woke' jobs
In an exclusive with the Express, the TPA revealed that police forces in England spent almost £8 million hiring hundreds of diversity and inclusion employees since 2019. There were 156 'woke' roles in total, including titles such as, Chief Inspector of Positive Action, Equality and Inclusion Adviser plus Ethics Delivery Lead.
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Our media campaign manager Danielle Boxall didn't hold back in her criticism, telling journalist Martyn Brown, “Our boys in blue have once again been caught red-handed dishing out more non-jobs. Taxpayers want their hard-earned cash spent on bobbies on the beat, not putting political priorities before policing. Police chiefs now need to justify these costs or refocus their funding on the frontline.”
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Stamp duty and the future of the housing market
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Just one week before the Budget, an all-star panel assembled by the TPA will be discussing the effects of the chancellor's stamp duty holiday on the housing market and what reforms are needed to improve the process for both buyers and sellers.
Please join us on Wednesday 24th February at 6pm when Homes Under the Hammer presenter Jasmine Birtles, MP Marco Longhi plus journalist and author Ross Clark will give their expert opinions on the subject.
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Please click here to register. There'll be plenty of time for your questions during the discussion but if you can't make it please email them to me.
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The house always wins - why we need to address planning
Writing a guest blog for the TPA, Angus Gillan sets out how reform of Britain's outdated planning system can transform lives and the economy. Young people see affordable housing as a key issue that could improve their lives. But currently, less than a quarter of 18 to 34 year olds are projected to be able to buy a home by 2026.
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As Angus explains, "supply is failing to meet demand. According to government figures the median average number of total builds in England over the last 42 years has been 155,262 per year, just over 60 per cent of the 250,000 needed to meet population growth."
The TaxPayers' Alliance is making the case for bold action to reform the planning system and tackle the root cause of a stalling housing sector. Click here to read more.
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When it rains it pours
Taxpayers in Conwy, North Wales are set to pay a hefty price to fix a leaky roof at the council's headquarters. Described as the authority's "jewel in the crown" the office building has leaked since it opened in 2013 and repairs are expected to cost £682,000.
Unsurprisingly many residents and councillors are up in arms about the unexpected costs. Quite rightly questions have already been asked about why the main contractors aren't liable. Given council tax increased by 9.1 per cent in 2019 and 4.9 per cent in 2020, Conwy's councillors should be doing everything possible to avoid taxpayers having to pick up the tab.
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Harry Fone
Grassroots Campaign Manager
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