A number of MPs are plotting to overturn plans to cut Britain's foreign budget. Owing to the devastating effects of the pandemic, the government wants to cut overseas aid spending temporarily from 0.7 per cent of Gross National Income (GNI) to 0.5 per cent - a saving of around ÂŁ4 billion to the taxpayers.
Indeed at the onset of the pandemic, we called for the aid budget to be diverted to combatting covid. But even before the virus struck, taxpayers were utterly fed up of seeing billions of pounds squandered overseas.
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The TPA team wasted no time in pushing back against calls for the cut in foreign aid to be reversed. In articles and on national radio we stood up for taxpayers, arguing that these rebel MPs are out of touch with the British public.
Our media campaign manager Danielle Boxall told Times Radio listeners that over the years there have been a litany of wasteful aid projects.
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MPs have argued that cutting aid spending will make Britain less charitable. But as Danielle rightly pointed out to presenter Mariella Frostrup, "even though we've cut the aid budget we are still a very charitable nation" - compared to most of our neighbours and allies we spend more as a proportion of our economy.
The TaxPayers' Alliance will continue to remind rebel MPs that this temporary cut will not undermine Britain's standing in the world. More importantly, taxpayers will get a better deal as more cash can be focussed on repairing the economy post pandemic.
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High Speed 2 is looking for a new chairman and Iâve thrown my hat into the ring. I have no hope of getting the job but I am using the opportunity to highlight how badly the project is going - it's both massively over budget and behind schedule.
Similarly, this process shows just what a closed shop the public sector appointment system is. As I've written previously the current system doesn't work. We need people with the dynamism and skills to get maximum value for taxpayersâ cash before itâs too late.Â
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I need your help to make this happen. Applications close tomorrow and I want to get as many people as possible to back my campaign. If you're fed up of the runaway train that is HS2, please support my application.
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TaxPayers' Alliance in the news
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Poorest households now lose majority of their income to tax
TPA analysis of figures releases by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that the poorest households now pay almost 57 per cent of their income in tax, the highest proportion of any group. Our media team didn't delay in putting out a statement from our chief executive John O'Connell which was heard across countless local and national radio stations.
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In his comments to the media, John perfectly laid out why these figures are concerning, "Itâs not just the pandemic thatâs punished the poorest, but relentless tax rises too. Struggling families have been battered by endless hikes and now face losing 57p of every pound they earn to the taxman."
The TPA is telling the chancellor loud and clear to cut taxes for hard-hit households and help them recover from this crisis.
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Slough's sloppy accounting
Back in February, I revealed that Slough Borough Council had spent millions of pounds of taxpayersâ cash adorning their new headquarters with plush fittings, astroturf and even bean bags. I questioned whether council bosses had their priorities straight. As I wrote for ConservativeHome this week it would seem that a recent independent audit confirms my suspicions.
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A damning report by Grant Thornton lays bare the local authorityâs financial incompetence, âwe are not satisfied that, in all significant respects Slough Borough Council put in place proper arrangements for securing economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources for the year ended 31 March 2019.â
It seems town hall bosses shouldn't get comfy in their new offices just yet. The TaxPayers' Alliance will continue in its mission to hold underperforming councils to account.
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Money for nothing
The Daily Star has discovered that furlough money was paid to prisoners during the covid lockdowns. Inmates on work placements at the Spring Hill prison in Buckinghamshire received payment under the furlough scheme after their jobs were suspended on health grounds.
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Responding to this mind-boggling news, our political director James Roberts didn't mince his words, "Weâre paying prisoners public money to do nothing. Taxpayers whoâve had their backs to the wall during covid shouldnât be forced to fund criminals.â Hear! Hear!
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Wales' proposed universal basic income threatens to do more harm than good
In May the first minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford announced that he is trialling a âUniversal Basic Incomeâ (UBI) in Wales, a policy of direct and unconditional cash transfers. As TPA researcher Tom Ryan explains, "this fashionable policy has been tried around the world by governments and private organisations, but hasnât much to show for it so far."
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It's unclear what shape the Welsh UBI will take, but existing proposals involve mind-boggling debt. A letter from 100 MPs to the Financial Times organised by Compass in 2020 recommended a payment of ÂŁ50 per household per week, at a cost of ÂŁ75 billion, which would grow to an eye-watering ÂŁ172.6 billion if the payment was extended to every individual.
Whatever happens, one thing is clear - Wales needs effective policymaking that doesnât waste taxpayersâ money, and Drakeford should reconsider before funnelling money into a UBI idea that threatens to do more harm than good. Click here to read more.
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Throwing money away
Harrow council had a howler this week after wasting ÂŁ30,000 sending out incorrect leaflets regarding bin collection schedules. The councillor responsible said that "various checks had been carried out but, unfortunately, this error was missed."
As a result, the leaflets were reprinted and redistributed to homes in the area. The TaxPayers' Alliance has previously commended councils for reducing printing costs but it seems Harrow council still has more work to do!
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Harry Fone
Grassroots Campaign Manager
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